Reunion

Last minute surprises: Vano coming back for a few days, Michael coming back for a few days.

It's been a crazy week and it's not over yet. There's even a possibility that Carol and I are driving Michael back to Dartmouth on Sunday. I'm not sure how I got pulled into that...I think it was something like "Rosie, wanna come?" and I was just like "Uhhhhhhh....okay?"

Last night was nice. I was at home learning a hip hop routine for National Dance Day on Saturday when Carol called and invited me to coffee with her, Vano, and Michael. Jake ended up joining us at Sebago. I like those last minute invitations...of course this week I haven't had time for such things, since everything this week was pretty much planned last week. We had a nice time. I'm pretty sure the other table of people could tell, because they kept giving us dirty looks for being so loud. 'Flete reunions are like that. Lots of inside jokes and memories and some catching up on current life.

There were certainly downsides to 'flete, but it's times like last night when you can really appreciate the benefits. Some of us don't see each other that often, but when we do we're like an inseparable family. Carol even commented on how we're different when we're with each other than other people. 'Flete encouraged our quirks. We're all really strange, but we like each other for that. Many other people don't get that, so we tone it down for them. Of course it's almost impossible to keep me toned down for very long anyway.

Another observation I had was how much I changed throughout my 'flete experience and even through college. In Freshman year I was a terror to all the new freshies (that was my name for them).

I arrived there in 8th grade and was accepted quickly despite my black clothing and make up and intense love for metal and screamo music. I gallivanted around with Iszy and Amanda and chased squirrels and played vikings on the tennis court. My boys were punks (Ben, Tom Ry, Charlie, Tiger, Matt) and I love rough housing with them. My nails were extremely long and sharp.


Things changed in high school. A ton of new people arrived and I wasn't so happy about that. I had the reputation of being rough and tough and scary. I liked it. The end of 8th grade at a party I wrestled with Tiger and he ended up hiding under a coffee table while someone else held me back. Kate's first impression of me came when we were in the lunch line. I didn't know her and I was standing in line with Jamie. I don't remember this, but apparently I bit him right in front of her. You know, typical me. That same year I gave Imani (one of my bffs) her first bloody nose for humming a song I didn't like one too many times. I also gave her a second bloody nose, but I think that was a mistake. I was pretending to punch her and then I actually did. I was at the front of every hardcore show that Imani and I went to. I was tough.

Now? I still wrestle with my boys. I'm careful though so as not to hurt the as badly. I restrain my biting to those I think can handle it. For some reason Katya thinks it tickles...I guess I don't need to hide behind a tough exterior anymore. I know I'm strong and I don't need to prove it. It's there when and if I need it. I do miss the days of being a terror though. It was a fun reputation. These days to my boys and a few others I'm still "evil" and that's good enough for me.

Going back to 'flete...we were talking about our reunions and whether we would go. I would. Carol and I agreed to go together. So many remember when's...Carol thinks the people from high school are the people we will be friends with our whole lives rather than college. I'm hoping it's both.

How do you mix the worlds though? Many of us don't. I think I've been one of the few who has been trying since freshman year of high school. It's taken 5 or 6 years, but Kelsey finally seems comfortable with the 'flete crew. So I think it can be done.