High School Reunion

High school reunions, frankly, give me heebie-jeebies.

This is a funny statement as I have never been to a reunion before, but I imagine it would be hell.

When I think of the person I was in high school: self-centered, attention-craved, over-involved, 115 lbs of complete self-righteousness, I just want to hide. Let alone, do I want to subject my sweet husband to my former boyfriends (or whatever they were) and cliques? Nah, no way. So, I have opted out of the high school reunion.

Instead of one big event or high school reunion,  I had a series of small reunions. One with Meghan Jones at an amazing Lebanese restaurant in New York City. One with Adam Young at Chesterfield Mall, and Dustin Welbourne another time. These were great little meetings and it was fun to catch up and swap crazy stories about our lives. Dustin has some sweet fashion sense now...and Adam has a beautiful family...adorable.

The reunion with Meghan was especially wonderful...I am so proud of her. We had not spoken for 3 years, not for any reason... just life craziness, and we picked up right where we left off like no time had passed. We screamed like freaks when we saw each other and hugged for at least 20 minutes...in a bar...in front of a lot of people. It was a major Jerry Macguire moment (but happier). Sounds sappy? Because it was! It was great. I wish she lived closer so I could see her face every day.

I remember meeting Lindsay Maheu when I was 14.

We were freshmen in high school and she and I hit it off in an instant. We both had tons of energy and smart-mouths, saracastic humor. And it didn't hurt that she had a fabulous wardrobe. We were both quirky and goofy; we made a good team. I remember hysterically laughing to the point of tears with her in her bedroom about boys, stupid school, Homecoming,  her brother, her crazy parents, my crazy parents, my hair cut, Mr. Chazen, everything.

But over time, we just grew apart, as friends do. She made the Poms squad, which was awesome because she was and is a beautiful dancer. I started running track/cross country, and I was in just about every school play I had the time to audition for...a woman obssessed with theater. So, we just...separated. Like a gradual divorce.

Three years ago, I came across her on Facebook. I friended her, and we got together, with our boys (yes, she has 2 boys, too!) about a week later. And just like with Meghan, we picked up where we left off. And we both had no idea why we stopped being friends in the first place. We decided that was stupid and
ta-da...friends again.

A few months after we started hanging out, Lindsay announced, bravely I might add, that Clark, her oldest was diagnosed with autism as well. This was right after Brody was diagnosed. It was a like a set of dominoes. So, we did what most girlfriends do when faced with challenges with their kids...

We drank wine. A lot of it.

Then of course (after all of the wine) Lindsay got pregnant with baby Margot (a baby girl!!!!) and we postponed the booze and nights out for a bit.

About 3 weeks ago, we met up at the Shaved Duck for a much-needed night out together (you must try this place...the food is incredible and the beer selection...wooo baby! Best dark beer in town). We sat at the bar and ordered junk food like honey and walnut cured bacon and jalapeno shrimp and grits. We chatted it up with all of the bar regulars and Lindsay conveniently knew all of the bartenders...every.single.one of them.

We vented about our insane children and she gushed about her baby girl...we laughed like cackling witches and drank waaaayyyyyy too much beer. In fact, at one point, I told the bartender I needed a bottled water and he handed me a Bud Select. Yep.

We also be-friended a dude named Keenan who was moving to St. Louis from New York City with his young family...a 12 month old and another baby on the way. We gave him daycare advice, baby food recipes and oh, Lindsay gave him all of the numbers for her OG/GYN. It was hysterical. The guy had no idea what/who hit him!

We closed the place down.

The night finally ended with Lindsay doing shots, and I agreed to sign up for more life insurance (she is our insurance agent as well). I would have joined her in the whiskey shots, but I am strictly a beer girl.

Who would have thought that we would re-connect so quickly? At 14, we had no idea that our lives would be so bonded...20 years or so later. That our little boys would share the same challenges and we would share the same gifts.

At the end of the night, I dropped Lindsay off at her classy/chic home next to Tower Grove Park.
She opened my car door, and drunkily (but genuinely) said...

"I am so glad we re-connected..."

I am, too...and who knows what the future holds for our boys. I do know, that Lindsay and I will go through it together. She's my partner in crime, again. And who can ask for more than that?

Oh, and we are going to the next High School Reunion. Armed with our husbands and a flask.