I Actually Invented the Post-It

By: Allison Norris

It’s a hot night.  I should be chipping away at that monster pile of laundry that seemily grew overnight, but it’s too hot in my room.  Guess the only option is to drink a beer out of a glass I found in my freezer.  There was weird sticky stuff on the bottom and the glass smells a little like mold, but it’s keeping that summer ale so refreshing, I’ll take it.  And, Bay is at his dad’s so I can drink it slowly.

It was my ten-year high school reunion this past weekend.  When I graduated from high school as the senior class president, I had a vague understanding that way, way, way in the future – like, 10 years ahead – I’d be responsible for the reunion.  Obviously I imagined being exactly like Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days… kick ass writing job for a magazine in NYC with a ridiculous wardrobe and long curly blond hair.  I’d have SO much money that I wouldn’t even charge people to come and would throw it at a fancy Inn on the Island.

Turns out I’m a single mom with new clothes from Value Village and no savings account.  It’s totally fine.  At least my hair is long and blond, so whatever.

For the last year I’ve been thinking of ideas and cruising pinterest for inspiration… putting it off until the next month.  Praying people would buy tickets so that there would be some money for the keg.  The next month turned into August and it was time to get the show on the road!

My dad and step-mom helped so much.  We threw our senior party in his field and for many seniors in my graduating class, it was the first time consuming alcohol and perhaps the first time having sex.  Right there in John Norris’ field on Holst Road.  I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place for the “Welcome bonfire” than that exact same location.  People I hadn’t seen since high school came and people I talk to every now and then were there.  We had a couple of celebs show up – one is a boyfriend of a girl in my class… he was on the last season of Survivor. (Awesome for me because it is the show I love so much.  Did you know they poop in the ocean and call it the “aqua-dump”?).  And then Pat Moote – the guy on the commercials.  He’s done McDonalds, Comcast, Ginger Ale, Axe body Spray, Toyota, etc.  He’s super cool.  Had a “homeless hot” look going.  Very Hollywood. I love him. My dad made them hot dogs.  It was great.

Saturday was at a century old Hall with wood floors, twinkle lights and loads of character.  I added blue and white checkered table cloths, mod podged centerpieces containing yearbook photos and tons of balloons.  I only played music from high school and we played trivia with questions about high school… they were all things I have been wondering about and couldn’t remember.

I will tell you.  You don’t realize how fast 10 years fly by until you are looking in the face of a classmate and it seems like yesterday you were gossiping about some girl who just hooked up with an ugly upperclassmen.  It’s these times in life, the reunions, where it all gets put into perspective.  These rituals we stick to – weddings, funerals, reunions, birthday parties – they are traditions designed to bring people together and to remember where we came from and really who we are.  We need each other in this life.  These are people that we can relate to if for no other reason than growing up with the same stop lights and cafeteria food.

I flung open the curtains on the stage at the hall and did a weird dance in front of my class without even thinking.  It seemed natural to do a crazy dance.  I didn’t think before I spoke – I just spoke the entire evening!  These people have known me before I had boobs.  They either like me, or they don’t, and there isn’t much to prove.  I maybe clicked with people that I hadn’t before simply over parenting, and it felt great.  No matter our differences in social status within those high school walls, it all evens out. Talking about that one day after your kid gets back from their dad’s house, how crappy the transition is, makes me feel like everything is normal and I’m not the only chick in school that got knocked up by her boyfriend.

There were about 160 kids in my graduating class.  I only saw a quarter of them, but it was an absolute joy.

I can’t wait for our 20 year.  And for someone else to plan it.