On Friday, I switched shifts so I could get together in Greektown with my girls from college for dinner. This was remarkable because a) in the TWELVE years they've been celebrating every year in April, I believe this is the first time I'd been able to make it b) despite having gotten up at 5 a.m., taking a nap after work, Friday-night traffic and circling for parking, I managed to get there on time, and c) the organization for which we were celebrating the anniversary technically doesn't exist at our university anymore. That last part broke my heart a little bit to hear.
We were seated at a very long rectangular table at Rodity's. On my left were two people expecting babies this summer. On my right were three girls I had never met that are the latest to join the group. Across from me was my roommate for the entirety of college, pp, and one of the first friends we'd made during our freshman year.
So of course, the reminiscing began even before the saganaki went up in flames.
pp tried to deny that she'd ever worn overalls in the '90s. Sorry, pal. I found some photographic proof. We talked about how we pretty much dressed like Rachel, Monica and Phoebe on Friends back then, down to the high-waisted jeans and the children's-size tshirts (which, in some cases, are now being worn by a six-year-old nephew). We recalled those crazy parties in falling-down houses and the inexpensive winecoolers that went a long way. The new girls mentioned people they're infatuated with and the drama that comes along with that. Old-schoolers shook their heads and smiled: What's that my professor used to say about how college is like a tollbooth? Yeah, that the people are constantly changing but it's generally always the same.
I would have left there feeling old and lame, but toward the end of the night, there were updates. In the last year there were at least two new babies, three new pregnancies, four weddings. Three people are now doctors, several are successful businesswomen (pp will soon get on a plane, go to a meeting and then fly back all in the same day). People are traveling the world, saving the world one charity function at a time, and still rocking the world at the club. We really have come a long way.
And yet, just as I used to do all those nights back in college when I'd write lengthy, descriptive emails to all of them about the freaks in the computer lab with me at 4 a.m., I'm here, tip-tapping away when I should be working on my freelance project. The more things change...
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4 comments:
First the procrastinator's creed...or have I told you already? haha. Why do it today when you can put it off for tomorrow?
It must be great to get together like this, measure, take stock, talk about future goals. I've never been to any kind of reunion. I migrated, then my friends migrated.
That's great that you got to see your girls. I'm sorry that the organization is not on campus anymore...it could make a comeback, no?
Some things never change, my friend. I have aw writing assignment due tomorrow...yet I keep finding other things to do/read/change diapers, you know.... lol
Sounds a bit like my group of friends from high school. We're not exactly feeling old and lame yet, but we're STILL planning on only one of us becoming rich and famous and supporting the rest of us all under one roof. Foolproof, right?
It is nice, GG. Just doesn't happen often enough. Before we'd be like, "hey want to go to the movies?" "Ok, I'll be there in 20 minutes." Now it's like, "April and most of May is not good for me, maybe we can plan on the movies some Saturday night in June?"
I was so sad, eb. But we have another branch at UIC so we can re-branch back to the original. well, at least that's the plan. startups, they're unpredictable. And those diapers aren't going to change themselves!
oh Cofo, living the Entourage dream, eh? did you know the real-life turtle died at 39? so sad.
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