10th reunion
You know you’ve picked a winner of a fiance when he doesn’t say one word of complaint about being dragged to your 10-year high school reunion.
I went to a private school, so a reunion is a big deal. This one ran from Friday to Sunday and included tons of food and booze. James was mostly excited at the prospect of free (I paid) food and drink all weekend. I was excited to see my friends.
At our 5-year reunion, everyone was just out of college and at their first job. Everyone dressed in their best “going out” clothes and drank like, well, 20-something New Yorkers at an open bar. There was some catching up, but mostly it was about doing things we weren’t allowed to do when we were students.
The 10-year is the year of the significant other. I’d say at least half of my classmates brought husbands, wives, fiances or girl- and boyfriends. In my group of close friends, only two of us weren’t married, and I brought my fiance.
This reunion, for me, wasn’t about seeing people I never talk to and haven’t thought of in the past 10 years. It was about spending time with the people I care about and never get to see. And getting to know their husbands a bit better.
I sat at dinner Saturday night and looked around at our group, which has doubled in size. Everyone was talking easily, whether they were alums or spouses. The four “extras” all got along beautifully with each other and with all of us. Our close-knit group has grown, but yet manages to still feel the same. We’ve really been able to embrace our friends’ expanding lives.
And they all loved James. Not that I doubted they would, but it is really reassuring to hear my friends tell me how much they like my fiance. And to see how well he fit in with everyone. No tension, no personality clashes, it was like we had always been together.
I cried on Sunday when I had to say good-bye to everyone. They are all moving to Boston, so at least there is a change that I will get to see them every month or two, if we work hard at it.
I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to introduce my fiance to some of the important people in my life and to give him a glimpse of a school that had a huge part in shaping who I am today.
It was a mushy, squishy, emotional weekend and I am exhausted. But it feels good.
