going back to high school....

i've gone to high school twice this week... and not in that nightmare dream where you realize you didn't go to class all year and now have to take the final...

in washington state you have to pass a project they call the culminating exhibit to graduate... community members sit on panels to help evaluate the presentations... i love it... so fascinating to watch these 17-18 year old kids reflect on their lives... and some times heart breaking to hear their stories and watch them struggle with public speaking...

this is my 3rd year in a row doing this and every time i pull in the parking lot i feel like i'm 16 all over again...

what i'm sure is adding to my anxiety is that the fashions right now are the same as they were 20+ years ago...

the people in this picture (the middle person's wedding circa 1993) were my world in the high school...

this picture has been on my fridge since it was sent to me that same year... when things get bad i look at that picture and remember something from that time that will make me laugh from my belly and relieve all that stress... i like to remember how lucky i was to have found these friends...

i wouldn't want to go back... but after this week i am more grateful than ever to still have them in my life...even if only thru email/facebook/ and the VERY occasional visit...