20th Reunion....Am I Really That Old?

Significant events in 1989.....

- George H.W. Bush becomes president of the United States.
- The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska
- Rain Man receives the Best Picture Oscar
- The TV show, Seinfeld, begins
- Pete Rose is banned for life from baseball

And the most important, of course.....

I graduated from the 8th grade. Wow. 8th grade. I've been out of the 8th grade for 20 years. That's a long time.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to meet up with several people from that 8th grade class and catch up. And while a few of them joined me at my high school (and I saw a few at the 10 year high school reunion - 6 years ago), it was fun to see others whom I had not seen since our graduation party.

It was a little strange to see them all with children though. It was weird to see some of my friends who were a little less responsible in 8th grade now be responsible for one or two or three children. One friend of mine even has four kids. Four kids?!?!?!? I don't even have one. Not that I'm jealous or bitter or anything. Everyone lives their lives differently and I'm happy the way mine has turned out. Sure, I don't have kids yet, but I am happy with my wife and my cat and my new home and I know kids will come in time.

But it was cool that we could see each other and talk about what we had been doing with our lives for a few minutes and then revert to as if we were back in 8th grade - with the stories and jokes and just plain having fun. I think if I were living in Phoenix I might be willing to get together with different friends at times and keep those friendships growing.

Twenty years may have passed, but for those of us that were at the get togethers, it was as if time stood still. I had a great time and look forward to at least staying in semi regular contact with these people. I had forgotten just how much fun they were.