So I was pushed to blog and I am glad for it. I have been wanting to blog about my trip back East, but I feel like I have been on the go and then so tired in the evenings. Ballooning at 5:15AM and add in training for www.hoodtocoast.com and I get so tired I am falling asleep at 10-10:30 at night. I'm usually a night owl, but it's taking a toll on me.
Sooo...I went back East, New Hampshire to start, for several reasons. NH was to speak at a camp for 250 middle school and high school students. It was a great week. I got to speak a total of 11 1/2 times. One included me climbing a climbing wall while speaking and reading from the Bible. That was pretty cool. The 1/2 was a last minute "chat" with all the girls about who they are and what they deserve. Holding on to their purity and not giving themselves away until they get married. It was a pretty amazing week.
Then I booked it over to New York for my 20 year high school reunion!!! WOW! I can't believe it has been so long. Seems like only...well, you know. I hung out with my brother and his family for the day and drove to my reunion. It's hard to believe. I have some great friends from high school. We were a very tight group and we seem to pick up with no problem from where we left off. Several of them I keep in contact with to this day.
I prayed 2 things would happen. 1) that I would have a great time with old friends. Check. 2) that I would get to have some significant conversations with different people. Check. A few that stand out. My best friend from high school, Rob. We talked about his dreams and what he wants to do. My friend Fred, she (yes, it was a nickname) had questions about forgiveness, knowing that I was a man of faith. That was incredibly cool! Talking to Dan, who was the first gay guy I ever knew. We all thought he was in high school, but didn't REALLY think it was true, because "no one" was gay then. I wanted to make sure I never made him feel bad by anything I ever said or did. He assured me I was always nice to him. We had a cool convo about the church, etc.
I think there were only 3 people from high school I didn't get to talk to. They were all people I really didn't know, but if you know me then you know I felt bad about it. One of the neighborhood "bullies" was our DJ. We had a pretty good conversation too. That was cool. Tanya, who had a baby in 10th grade was there. I told her that it was at that moment I realized that some of my friends who said they were having sex were probably actually having sex. You might say I was a little naive. She apologized, but I told her not to worry about it.
After the reunion about 25 of us went over to Michelle's house and stayed until 3AM!!! Michelle's maiden name was Williams and I remember 2 very distinct moments with Michelle. 1) when she told me we could never date because people would think it weird that we were dating our own sibling (no relation). 2) When she told me I needed to get a pair of Levi's because they would make my butt look REALLY good! I had Wranglers, but went home and immediately told my mom I needed a pair of Levi's. The power of women never fails!
There were a few people from my close knit circle of friends who were not there for one reason or another and that was disappointing, but overall I was extremely pleased with my reunion. My best girl friend from high school, Katie (she now goes by Kate cuz she's a grown up or something) was there and it was so good to get some time with her. The downer was that she and Michelle set the whole thing up so they were pretty busy and I had so many conversations that I felt like I didn't get in the time with her that I had hoped for. She even asked me to marry her a few years ago (perform the wedding ceremony that is).
My friend Julie and I have been put in charge to do our 25th. That will be a lot of fun. 5 years seems like forever away and yet so close when you consider 1989, my graduating year. Thanx friends. I love you all!
