Cue the ominous music...

DUNNN DUNNN
DUNN DUMM....

I may or may not have just realized that my 20th high school reunion is this summer.

This realization may or may not have just set off a panic in me not seen in ages.

DUNNN DUNNN
DUNN DUMM ....

(that's supposed to be the ominous music)

The last reunion I went to was year # 10 ... I was 28, mother of 3. Everyone at 10 years post high school is still trying to prove that they are the happiest, the most successful, and overall better than everyone else. And certainly more successful than anyone would have assumed they would be... in high school.

In fact, I regret to say I ended up skipping the 2nd event and only went to the picnic with my best friend Lisa. This was pre-facebook era, and I hadn't kept in contact with anyone else. She is and was the only high school friend (actually junior high friend) that I still talk to after all these years. We had had enough by the end of the picnic on the first day. The jocks were still the jocks. The cheerleaders were still perky. The dorks were still dorks. And the groups remained non-integrated groups.

At the picnic, I hate to admit that I made my then 9 year old daughter lie and say she was 8. Pathetic. I know. I also actually loaned out one of my babies to Lisa so she wouldn't look like the only loser without a kid. It was a pathetic display of high school reunionitis.. Lisa... if you're still a reader... you do remember borrowing my 1 year old right? You still owe me for that. Or maybe I owe you?

When I started thinking about this reunion, I wondered if 20 years would be different. I keep seeing images of Lisa and I dancing like Romy and Michelle... I wonder if there's time to get a dance routine in order...? I somehow doubt it.

I must admit that the first thing I thought was I need to:

• get in shape
• get a tan
• go shopping
• get contacts
• become more successful
• write a novel
• win the lottery and be delivered to the reunion via helicopter...

But in reality, we all know that's not going to happen.

But, I guess I'll go anyway... even if I don't have a helicopter. Boo.

I'll see if 20 years is any different than 10.

I have a feeling it will be. If nothing else, I'll wear my University of Chicago Parents Weekend shirt proudly. And brag about my college age kid! And the other 5 little bees.

I plan on finding that girl who told everyone that I was pregnant the last semester of high school and who in general attempted to ruin my life, and I'm gonna tell her how great my life has turned out. And that I wouldn't change one single thing. It wasn't a choice I would make for myself or for my daughters, but it has been a wild 20 years. It happened, and it was hard... And it also made me who I am today. It has given me compassion for single moms. It has given me strength. It has given me vision.

And if I see her... I swear I'm gonna tell her just that.

Thankyouverymuch!

The only thing that would make that showdown better would be if Jordan's dad and his wonderful wife were there, and we showed what great friends we have remained over the years. We could show them how we co-parented the most awesome kid in the world without all the petty fighting and silliness. And how she goes to one of the top 10 universities in the nation. I can see it now. It will be awesome. (*hint hint... Adell, you should probably make this happen... We can all go in our UChicago wear)

I'm not the same person I was then. I'm stronger. I'm smarter. I'm older. But I still feel like that 18 year old kid who had the world at her fingertips. I still feel like I can change the world. And I want that to show. I want to share my story.

And hey Lisa, let me know if you need to borrow anything or anyone for the reunion. I've got more than enough this time.