The bar was crowded as I entered. I looked around and there were large groups of people all over the large room. I was looking to meet friends I have not seen in 24 years. I heard my name and I saw all of them together. My heart raced and I knew I was excited.
My core group was there as well as so many other friends that I was close to: Ted, Deric, Sandra, Glenda, Kathleen, Julie, Shannon, Jay, Mario, Rosario, Silvia, Merena and more. Every one looked the same, just a little older. Hugs all around, lots of laughter and excitement. Even one of our professors joined us and she did not look a day older!
Rosario brought in about 4 large photo albums for us to look at which was very funny. Then it was photo time. It was like the paparazzi, so many cameras and so many flashes. I did not even take mine out, I will get to see all of the ones taken from Glenda. As a group we spent a few hours catching up with each other.
Later the house band began to play very loudly. So in a flash we all went across the street to a bistro bar and filled their back room. I got caught up on everyones life and shared stories of the past. Some I remembered, some I did not.
Near the end of the evening as tradition holds Tequila came to visit. My core group use to call us the Sub Club because it was a bar we use to frequent in Juarez Mexico across the El Paso boarder. We always went for the cheap beer and the Tequila!
After a few rounds I was sitting with Sandra, Deric, Ted and Jay and we were laughing so very hard. It seemed as though it had only been a few weeks since we parted. Old ways of being and habits came up for us. The closeness we shared as teenagers still existed which amazed me.
I also got to reconnect with my other friends and create new friendships with the spouses of the group. It was neat that at one point the spouses and significant others had their own table and the old friends had theirs. There was a lot of laughter, joy and love in the room.
I was reluctant to come but thought I might have a little fun. I had no idea how much I had missed these friends and how much I want to stay in touch and have them in my life in the future. I definitely had more fun than I ever expected to and I am so happy that we got this opportunity to reconnect again.
Tomorrow we have a planned lunch at a Mexican restaurant that I am told is very good. There will be 19 of us for lunch! Then later tomorrow evening is the dinner dance at the school.