by Rupert Flagg

Created on: April 04, 2007   Last Updated: January 23, 2012

The email looked harmless enough...blah blah High school Reunion Committee. The writer was someone with a name like Muffy or Margaret, I can't remember.
I clicked on the subject - "Your Reunion packet is ready. Please update your information."
I began to read, blah, blah, blah...wait...30th high school reunion?!? Wait, surely this email must have been sent to me by mistake! I didn't feel old and yet the number 30 screamed at me to go get my shawl because the temperature had suddenly dropped in the room.

Wow! has it really been 30 years since I was 18? What happened to 28 or 38? When had 48 walked up and pushed its way to the front of the line? Yikes! I'm two years away from my grandmother's age! In my panic, I called my mom - trying to gain sympathy for my aging body. Mom scoffed, "Would you stop saying that it's been 30 years. I was 39 when you were 18." I stopped, wow, Mom was now older than grandma.
I asked her apology and hung up the phone. Was my back really aching, or was it the way the temperature kept dropping in the room? I went to get a sweater.
28 had been fun, I was newly married and having fun! I remember laughing a lot snuggled up all warm against my new hubby's back.
38 found me wondering when the man lying next to me began to generate so much heat? And where had he left his six pack? And now, 48 has found me in the gym, eating  donuts as I walk on the treadmill, (I must keep my strength up) glaring back at the 100 pound blonde next to me that just can't seem to keep her eyes off my donuts. I'd offer her one, but I don't like the way she turned her nose up at me. Besides, she wouldn't understand what it's like going to sleep 124 pounds,18 years old, looking forward to the future and waking up 30 years later to 200 plus pounds and wondering where the time went. I wipe the sugar from the donuts onto my sweat pants and close my eyes - picturing myself naked. I promise you, I'll hit the first person from high school who says, "Wow! You haven't changed a bit!

What? I was a svelte 124 pounds in High School. Rock hard abdominal and a bottom that begged to be photographed! I truly wonder who had the bright idea to hold a party with your past as the theme? High School was torture at its best. Why do we want to remember it, fondly, if at all!
So, like the rest of my aging "1977-ers" who are still clinging to life, I will continue to tame the pounds, minus the junk food, find a good dentist, and hair stylist and promise to attend my 50th High School Reunion - NOT!

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