Reliving the Past: Reunion Style
By Niki Wyre
Nothing dredges up memories or nostalgia quicker than thinking back to your school days when you are adulting (or attempting to adult). So when the countdown started for my (bear with my age admittance here) twenty year high school reunion, my brain turned in to a tilt a whirl of churned up memories I thought were lost and buried many moons ago. Nope. That’s not how it works apparently. Sigh.
Most people have some anxiety about upcoming reunions, gained weight or seeing a lost love, meeting up with old friends, etc. For me, it is much more complicated. I was determined to go to face my demons but to go meant that I had to go and spend time on the sidelines in my wheelchair with people wondering 1. why I was in a wheelchair 2. question my weight 3. side eye my vibrant pink hair and 4. majority had no idea who I was because let’s be real, I look nothing like I did in high school. A fact, that is intentional. I am my own person now and no longer under strict militant law of a dictator that ruled my family’s life then. I can dress how I want, do my hair how I want, makeup how I want, listen to music I want, etc. It’s a beautiful thing.
Now in addition to the above stressors I have one additional fear. I had worried that my ex husband would be attendance, who thankful did not. It stressed me continuously throughout the weeks leading to the event, leading to PTSD flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety attacks. Things that had not plagued me in many years since our split in 2006.
So with that said, I managed to pull myself together as best as I could. I wore a dress for the first time in a long time and actually enjoyed it, so I may have to do that more often. I may of gotten a little bit sunburned since it was outside at sunset in a Tiki bar and I am a pale vampire but what are you going to do. lol
I did get to meet up with some wonderful friends that I haven’t seen since high school and I am looking forward to catching up on their lives and getting to know them all over again. Of course my body decided it had to have an early night and play Cinderella leaving the ball early but I did make it there, so that’s what matters, right?
Until next time.
<3 Niki Wyre
P.S. I actually thought I would give my classmates a heads up so they would recognize me after all these years, so I posted a then vs. now pic. Yeahhh still only maybe 4 or 5 people recognized me or knew who I was. Go me. Your welcome to all my friends that couldn’t come or forego-ed that bad memories. I held down the fort in their stead. lol
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