Reunions

By: Meradeth Houston on 2:11 PM

Yesterday I had one of those crazy experiences that made me sit back and reflect a lot about life, choices, and the paths we each take. I'll spare you my "deep" thoughts, but it was still quite an experience. See, after over 10 years since the last time we all got together, my old girl scout troop decided to have a little reunion. I'm admitting to some major dorkiness here, noting that I was involved in girl scouts all through high school, but I also have to add that it was really a great thing for me. We did tons of activities and were really active--it was these things that really helped me out during the struggles at home and at school during the same years. I owe a lot to the other girls, my leaders, and scouting in general (so, in my little bit of advertising--sign your girls up for scouts! It's worth it!). Anyhow, yesterday's lunch brought together the six of us, who are all by some strange coincidence still living in the area. First of all, it was just great to see everyone. It was also really strange to see what things have changed--and what hasn't.

At the end of high school, each of our personalities had really taken shape. Sure, the hardships and such in the intervening years have changed us, but it was really neat to see how I can still sit in the same room with these ladies and see the same people I knew back then. We all might look a bit different (some of us more than others!), but we're still the same people. For some reason, that was really gratifying to see, mainly because I know these ladies are just good people. I liked them then, and I still do now :) (Not that I was really worried about that!)

Looking through a bunch of old photos, we each had different memories form the trips we'd taken (apparently there was a bear encounter on one of our camping trips??), and some things that I swear I don't remember. We all had a good laugh at what we were wearing back in the 90's. We talked about our favorite things, those things that still stuck with us, and how living in a small town means we run into each other's families all the time.

When I left, I really started thinking about choices; the things we have all chosen to do over the years to get us where we are today. In high school, I doubt any of us would have ever thought much about the far-flung changes each choice we made would create. No one does, really. But looking back, it's so clear. In a lot of ways, seeing each of the other women there was like a little trip through time (yeah, I know, cheesy), but I remember when we were younger and all of us having goals and dreams for our lives, and now seeing how those are playing out has been really fascinating. Certainly something to think about....