I Travel the World and the Seven Seas, by Joan

Well, here I go strolling into IHOP to get breakfast really early one morning, and I see a girl I think I know, but I’m terrible at names, so I am trying to be inconspicuous so she doesn’t see me. Mind you, it’s like 7 am; I have on my miracle bra (a shirt, too), a fur-lined coat (fake fur, fake fur!), and these big ol’ leopard-striped glasses, and I am ordering to go—that kind of inconspicuous. (I had just read Fabulous-ity by Kimora Lee Simmons, and I let the part about leaving the house looking glamorous just go to my head.) But anyway, hiding doesn’t work, and the girl turns around and it’s Laura from high school! Now I don’t think any of us look grown up; when I say girl, I mean it looked like some girl. Grown-ups are our parents. Anyway, we exchange info, I give myself a mental reminder to not go out of the house in the crazy fur coat ever again, and here I am, re-thinking high school. And blogging ...only due to Kris’s help and information: thanks, Kris! You rock.

The first thing I did was go home and watch Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion. Have you seen that? You should watch it. We are all in it, one way or another. (I am not Janeane Garafolo’s character!) So at least I know I am not the only one in the world who feels weird about reunions. And I was soooo quiet in high school. See, I started school (kindergarten) early as a kid and went from second grade to fourth grade, and then they put me in gifted classes on top of that. So I was younger than y’all, and to me, you all seemed so sophisticated. You could drive. You could drink (not together!). So I felt, and was, weird. Smart, but weird. Then, in 9th grade, I had chorus really early in the morning, and we sat on those green risers; remember? The boy next to me puked his guts up because he drank red wine before school. For Breakfast. And I was shocked because it was a Tuesday or something. I didn’t even know you could drink during the week. Yes, I was weird and geeky. And thus began my high school career.

I have good high school memories, though. I remember that April Lane was tooooo funny. That Lynnwood B. had really cool lace-up suede boots. That Stephanie C. was so nice. That Ms. Smith was really hard in English, but a great teacher. That at one point the seniors (us) had to root for the freshman to win the volleyball mark competition so the juniors wouldn’t kick our a$$ and win the entire competition for the year. (Ewwww, we rooted for the freshman? I hope I didn’t dream that up.) I went to every spring break (all four years! top that), and I skipped 70 days my junior year and still graduated on time. (Yeah, I know, I know: bad Joan!) I also remember my little sister Candice got mad at me and made a poster by putting my head on a bikini model’s body, making photocopies, and then pasting them all over school with a lovely “for a good time, call...” message. That still makes me laugh, or I should say, it makes me laugh NOW. (Anybody get one of those flyers? Cause no one called.) Little things are the things I remember.

But I grew up, thank goodness! And I love being an adult. I can set the thermostat wherever I want. I can eat cereal for dinner, and I do not have to get permission to go to Florida. (I’m going today as a matter of fact.) I absolutely love to travel! We try (my sweetheart and I) to travel once a month, and we were better about it before the storm, but Katrina changed everything for everybody. We got water in our home, like everyone else, but we had a rental house that was only minimally damaged, so that was good. We’ve been working on both homes long distance while we spend some time in Rome, Italy, with my family (my dad died in 97: he was from Naples) and also time in Atlanta, Georgia (thinking of moving there). I got a M.Ed. in counseling in 1997, I have taught high school and college, and right now I am just taking time off until the houses are done. The things you learn as you go along sure make the wrinkles you get worthwhile.

Oh, and my sweetheart: well, he is just that. Wonderful and Charming. His name is Brent, and he went to Salmen (boooooo), class of 98. Yes, do the math. The obvious age difference means a few things. First off, stamina (his, not mine). Second, I know what a “level 60 shaman with epic gear” is. Third, he keeps me so young. And since it’s cool now to date a younger man, I am no longer as weird. (No kiddos yet, but I do have 2 cats and 2 sugar gliders.)

So that is my life. I’m glad this blog was started; it’s so nice to see everyone’s photos and to read about how everyone is doing. I hope you all are well; that if you have family fighting for us overseas that they come home soon, safe and sound; that your children know how lucky they are to have such cool parents; and that the coming year sees you blessed. I wish I had talked to you all more in school. Everyone I see from SHS seems so nice. Thanks to everyone who is on the reunion committee and to everyone who is posting on this site!

Peace and love,
Joan