My thoughts from the 20-year reunion ...

My 20-year high school reunion that I attended this past weekend was very enjoyable. The only negative thing that I could say was that it wasn't very well attended. By my count, only about 60-65 classmates from a graduating class of 247 attended. However, everybody there seemed to have a good time. Most people were more interested in where you lived, marital status, and how many kids that you have rather than what line of business you were in or where you work. Then, they were eager to reminisce about funny stories and days of the past. Overall, I thought most people had taken care of themselves and looked good, although, there was a few that "let themselves go". As a good friend of mine just mentioned to me, it was not as "clique-ish" as the 10-year reunion. My guess is as we all get older those barriers and imaginary walls that divide people in high school instinctively break down. The fact that a person smokes, drinks, dresses a certain way, is athletic, smart, funny, or popular seems not to matter at age 38 like it did at age 18. People are naturally more aware of who they are as they age.

What really hit me was the words "we will all go in different directions from here" that are always spoken at a high-school graduation, really rang true. After graduation, people literally scatter throughout the country and world. They have completely different experiences, some get married and maybe divorced, have kids or not, travel the globe, and develop expertise in different areas of their life.

In summary, one thing remained true. The personalities and activities that defined them in high school still manifest themselves in their lives in the late 30's. Despite everyone trying to be on their best behavior at an event like a high school reunion, those innate characteristics and personality traits continue to define us as we age and approach the age of 40. Even over 20 years time, people don't change much.