Twenty years ago, I graduated from high school. When I say it out loud twenty years sounds like a long time, but in my mind it wasn't so long ago.
Twenty years ago, I dreamed of college, a career, a husband, babies and adventure.
Twenty years ago, I was about to leave my parents' home and my small town and venture out into the world alone.
Twenty years ago, I thought I knew an awful lot.
Twenty years ago, I was just starting out.
Twenty years ago, I had a narrow view of the world.
Twenty years later, I have an education, I've been on several career paths, I have a husband and two little kiddos and I've been on many adventures.
Twenty years later, I've moved northwards with stops in OK, IA and MN.
Twenty years later, I've won and lost; I've been up and down; I've learned and gained and squandered and rebuilt and been knocked flat and gotten up again and again and again.
Twenty years later, I don't feel or look how I imagined 38 would feel or look.
Twenty years later, I know how much I don't know.
Twenty years later, I see the world for what is it; beautiful and terrible all in the same breath.
Twenty years later, I look forward to the next twenty years.
Time has a funny way of sprinting by then creeping by in slow motion before rushing past again. Occasionally, time even stands still for a single moment or two. And while time can change our outsides, adding wrinkles and gray hairs and bumps and lumps and scars and flabby bellies, our deep down inside core stays as young as we allow, which is why high school seems like it was just a few years ago.
High school is when we start to spread our wings. It's when we test ourselves and our parents; it's when we realize what the words to those pop songs really mean; it's when we are faced with temptations and have to decide whether to jump in and accept any consequences or to turn and walk away; it's when we think we've got it all figured it; only to find out later, we don't.
I won't be attending my high school reunion, but I have been thinking of those in my class of 1993 and those who helped to shape me and those who left their marks on my heart. And I wouldn't change a thing. Would you? Over and out...
Anna
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