One is Silver and the Other’s Gold…….

Brain Injury, Caregivers, Humor, Uncategorized, , , , ,

Remember in high school this conversation, usually in the girls’ bathroom:

“Oh my God, he’s so cute. I hope he asks  me out!”

“Oh my god he IS SO CUTE!,” replied your girlfriend in the next stall.

Of course this was before you could text between stalls.

My friend Lisa, is going to her high school reunion for the first time. It’s her 45th reunion. Add 18 to that and you have deciphered the age of most of the participants with a certain very tiny margin of error of no more than a year, unless they had an unusually high percentage of child geniuses in her small upstate New York town. I feel quite certain this was one of their former conversations four decades ago.

Oddly, Lisa attended a singing event in that same small upstate New York town several months ago. She made a special effort to contact some old high school friends and voila! She was convinced by these dear, kind friends from the past to make a special effort to get to that reunion.

Since her traumatic brain injury, Lisa does not drive and no one from her high school lives anywhere near her. But these old pals from the past, whom she hasn’t seen in a very long time, have agreed to drive many hours to come pick her up and the same many hours to return her safe and sound to her home.

This has restored my faith in humanity.

Lisa hasn’t seen these people from high school in many years. She hasn’t spoken to several of them at all since high school ended. And yet, these girls (yes, I’m going to call them that) are willing to make big sacrifices to get her transported, housed and taken care of so that they can all reminisce about their teenage lives.

I have been know to comment that “high school never ends”, and not in a good way. I have seen cattiness, jealousy and spitefulness continue among high school compatriots all around me. And, of course, we see it as a staple in reality TV like “Real Housewives” of anywhere, “The Bachelor(ette)”and any “reality” show requiring contestants to compete for attention, living space, food, or screen time so they can be famous. This is high school behavior at its finest. Small-minded, petty, self-serving behavior. It might be fun to watch, but it’s really not fun to be in the midst of it.

Life has continued to become a popularity contest, and not in a good way. What else would you call a host of mudslinging, bully tactics designed to make your opponent look bad in the eyes of the student body…oh a political campaign, that’s right.

I am one of those few lucky girls who even after 40 years of  high school,  still regularly sees my high school girlfriends who are a rock solid foundation of support, fun, and constant joy in  my life.

That my friend, Lisa, has rediscovered the possibility that old friends could be ‘gold’ does my heart good.

This, of course, did not exempt any of these 60-something women from having a big internet powwow in the last few days about whose old boyfriend will be showing up and which of those might be single and a possible “love connection.”

I imagine those ladies in the girls’ bathroom this weekend when they see their former flames saying:

“Oh my God, he’s still so cute, I wonder if he’s single?”

“Oh my God, he is cute, and he has his own teeth AND HIS OWN HAIR?!?!?”

See, high school never ends…….no, really, it’s true. If only you knew that when you were in high school.

“You Just have to Laugh………..”

©2015 Cathy Sikorski

0 thoughts on “One is Silver and the Other’s Gold…….”

  1. Great observations, Cathy. High school doesn’t end in many ways. For that reason, I choose not to attend any more reunions. My experience at the 10th was good, 20 disappointing, 30 a turning point. I skipped 40 and will skip 50 in 2022. However, I have connected with some really nice girls on Facebook who weren’t my close buddies in school but have welcomed me into their virtual circle. That’s enough for me.

    1. See, Laurie, always a silver lining. Facebook helped my friend find these great ladies and so there you go. High School can have some redeeming qualities! Have a great day!

  2. I really hope your friend Lisa has a great time. I love having the chance to catch up with my oldest friends and who hasn’t looked up their old boyfriends on Facebook:)
    I’ve worked pretty hard at eliminating the cattiness and people that enjoy that behavior out of my life. It really makes me sad to see it happen especially with grown-up women.

    1. I hope Lisa has a great time too. I know what you mean about the cattiness…so glad I’ve found people like you, Doreen! You’re the best!

  3. Lots of truth in this post that’s for sure. I got a big LOL from the hair and the teeth comments…hysterical. It’s so nice that you still have solid friendships with your high school mates…that’s awesome!

    1. I am fortunate indeed with my high school chums… weirdly we rarely talk about those cute boys from days gone by…guess we have grown up! Thanks for LOLing along with me!

    1. That’s either my grace or my downfall, Roz. Everyone who reads my book and blog always says, “I can hear you, I can hear you!” Thanks for reading, hope you don’t have Cathy “earworm” now!

  5. Love it! I am also one in a small minority who remains close to dozens of high school friends. It is a treasure. I hope Lisa has the best time at her reunion. My class reunions are every five years and I’ve only missed one.

    1. Helene, we are lucky gals indeed. Of course, I consider that my new friendships. as with you are on their way to gold status! I count my blessings every day. Thanks for commenting!

    1. Yes, Carol!!!!! The opposite of mean girls!! We are NOT always our own worst enemies…just had to put that out there!Thanks for seeing that.

  9. Cathy, I did “just have to laugh” especially about the “own teeth” and “own Hair”. I look forward to these posts/