Dinner and a prom, 1987 style.

On Saturday evening, I reluctantly dragged my husband out to dinner in my hometown to see an old friend from high school. He used to date my girlfriend and we caught up with each other at our 20 year 10 year high school reunion a couple of years ago. It was great to see him, but the whole reunion thing freaked me out for a couple of reasons.

1. I hated high school. OK, I didn't hate it. I just don't have warm, loving memories like I do from college. I worked a lot in high school, and dated a boy from outside the school, so I didn't get too involved with school activities. I went through the motions and either went home or to work after school. No sports. No plays. No school spirit. So when I escaped to NY for college, I never looked back.

2. I was now 50 lbs 5 lbs heavier than I was in high school and feeling VERY self-conscious. I knew I hadn't taken care of myself but I was in a funk I couldn't get out of. I never expected to stay 125 lbs, but never expected to balloon to 175, either.

As it turned out, the reunion was a good thing because 3 months later I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and started exercising, eating healthy, and within 7 months, poof, 20 lbs were gone. And they have stayed off and I'm okay hanging in the 150's. Thanks 20 year 10 year reunion.

It was also good because my friend and I have managed to stay in touch (thanks Facebook) and so I said "yes" when he invited me out to dinner with two other guys I knew from the 80's(who also dated friends of mine in high school). Unfortunately, they didn't go to the 20 year reunion, so it had been almost 22 years since I'd seen them. Suddenly, that was weighing heavy on my mind. Twenty-two years. 22 years. TWENTY TWO YEARS! I hadn't had a "legal" drink with these boys because they were 18 the last time we saw each other!!

Welcome back, anxiety. Nice to see you again! I fretted over this night the whole week. What were we going to talk about? I've never met their wives. Did they have kids? How do you start the conversation, "So, whatcha been up to for the past two decades?? And why did you and Janice break up again?" Ugh. What had I gotten myself into?

Reservations were at 8:00. We agreed to meet up with Dennis and his wife at 7. Of course we were the first ones to arrive. If you know me, you know that VERY RARELY am I late. Incredible trait passed down to me from my Dad. I asked the hostess about the reservation for 8 people at 8:00. Ahhh. Nope. But there was a reservation for 14 people at 8:00. WHAT??? Fourteen?? Crap. Who are the other 6 people???

Dennis and his wife arrived and the four of us had a great time laughing over drinks. There wasn't really a bar area, so they sat us at the long table early so we ordered appetizers, shared stories and the conversation flowed easily. This was good.

Then it was a little after 8:00 and 4 more arrived and it was one of the guys I knew so we exchanged big hugs and hellos. He brought his brother and sister-in-law. His brother coincidentally graduated with my brother, but they didn't know each other. Ralph says he looked just like DeNiro. And he did. This was good.

Then 4 more showed up. It was two guys I knew from school but didn't necessarily hang out with them. Their wives seemed really nice. Upon introductions to hubby, one of the guys managed to spill a whole glass of red wine all over Ralph's white shirt - but it turned into some pretty good fodder for jokes. They all shouted out "Welcome to Waltham." They tried to make him feel at home. Let's just say, I owe hubby a new white shirt. This was good.

Then the last guy I knew arrived solo - his wife was home sick with their son. We were our table of 13. This was good. As I found out, they all do this quite often so I felt a little out of place at first. But honestly, by the time more appetizers arrived, I was having a wonderful time. Everyone included us in their conversations. They filled us in on the stories of bachelor parties and family vacations.

I had bravely packed pictures from Prom in my purse because the main connection I shared with these guys was fact that they all escorted my girlfriends to the Prom. After enough drinks, I asked if anyone wanted to see them. So, out came 1987. And more laughs.

By the end of the evening I was sad to go and we were still talking as we were heading out the door. Amazing how your mind can resurrect those high school anxieties, but as we are all turning 40 21 this year something amazing happened. A group of 13 adults sat down to dinner and had a fabulous time!

What happened to those "girlfriends" from 1987? No idea. But I met some lovely wives so all things happen for a reason :) My, how prom gowns have changed since the late 80's, haven't they? I'm the one on the left. I must have misread "prom" as "wedding"...what the hell was I thinking????