Connections

Recently I had the opportunity to go to my 20th Highschool reunion. It was a surreal experience. Walking into a room filled with faces that I recognized but they belonged to people I didn't know anymore. As soon as I began to mingle it was as if the last 20 never happened. I was in the ladies' room with my three best friends from High school; talking about "Girl Stuff" while our husbands ordered drinks.


 The 10th reunion had felt like we were all trying to impress each other. That wasn't the case this time around. Maybe it was because of the energy I had brought. Even though the turn out had been small for the 20th reunion; it turned out to be a good thing. I got the opportunity to talk with people who I did not get to know in school. I was thinking to myself This person is so funny... Why did we not hangout in school? 


The answer is simple we are older and wiser now. Life had happened. Some of it good and some of it bad. There I stood in a room of people who wanted to reconnect. So exciting! The next day I was sending friend requests left and right on Facebook!

Life is short

 A few years back my husband came home from work and and gave me the bad news. An old friend had died in a fire. He was a brave fireman who risked his life to save others. This moment in my life changed me forever. I always thought that we had time to reconnect. I imagined meeting his family and him mine. Now he was gone and he didn't meet my family...we didn't get the chance to reconnect. How did I miss the warning...life is short.

Photo by Thomas Winarski

Inspiration

 After my friend's death, I felt the need to make something good come from this tragedy. My friend had been the kind of person who befriended everyone. I used to think he was nieve, because some of the characters seemed like bad news. I worried he would get hurt or be taken advantage of. He knew the risk and he connected anyways. He inspired me to stay in touch with friends and to call up those from my past. My 20th reunion was the perfect opportunity to rekindle those old but not forgotten relationships.

Excuses

It has been too long. They won't remember me. I think I was mad at them. They will think I am crazy. Those are some of my excuses that ran through my head. I can tell you that when I reached out; the other person on the other end was happy to hear from me. Those excuses were just ridiculous and they were holding me back. I urge you to find a way to connect and ignore the excuses in your head. Make new friends and cherish the old ones. 

Music in My Head

"Glad You Came" by The Wanted
"Do you Realize" by The Flaming Lips
"Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Folgelburg

On the Canvas

Take some pictures of your friends. I used to take pictures in college and I take a lot of my kids. However I don't take them of my friends anymore. Have fun! Make a collage! Pretend everyday is a vacation and take some pics of your friends! Got to go...I need to set up a playdate for me and my girlfriends!

Till we meet a again my creative friends!

Jenni
Special dedication to Pioneer's Class of '92