yesterday i was talking to a friend about how he got invited to his 5 year high school reunion (which how is that a thing). we ended up talking about being young and high school. we both grew up in small towns and never really felt like we belonged. i was lucky and i went to a big high school but he didn’t get that chance. i asked if he was still friends with anyone from home and he isn’t and it just got my brain spinning.
like how lucky was i that i met people who got me when i was a younger teenager and didn’t have to wait until i was an adult to really start figuring myself out. when i was real young and still stuck in that small small town i didn’t know myself at all and i was rarely comfortable with the people that were around me. but i got to go to a huge high school and started meeting people that were more like me. i didn’t have to feel like i didn’t belong for so long. i had a great high school experience and i know that so so many people don’t.
so many people from that time in my life are still such important people to me. nearly all of my closest friends are friends i’ve had since high school. it’s my birthday today. i spent last night with one of my high school best friends. i have a video on my phone of one of my best friend’s daughters singing her auntie lauren happy birthday. a person i’ve known for as long as i can remember who is also my best friend is currently flashing at the top of my screen with a facebook message. i speak to another one of my best friends who i met the first year of high school every single day. how lucky am i that i got to have all of this. so many people don’t.
i don’t know. i just feel lucky. like sometimes it makes me sad and i can’t believe how many years have passed since i’ve lived in the same places as some of these people. but i wouldn’t trade them for anything.