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Posted by Eddie James on August 26, 2008



The first part of August I had the amazing opportunity to step back in time. I was vice president of my Jr. and Sr. Class which means you are partly responsible for planning the 20 year reunion.

I was really nervous about stepping back into a time that i tried so hard to be liked by my peers. A time when significance was what other people thought about me. A time when a good day was brought on by what "good stuff" came my way. A time when my heart would skip a beat if i could make the pretty girl in my biology class laugh and smile. High School is like that...full of drama, full of high's and low's and if you are lucky- full of friendships.

I came into the night with butterflies of what is this going to look like...and i went away wishing the night wouldn't end. For just a moment we are all sucked back into a time when we were "friends". Maybe not best friends or BFF's as they call it today but of a graduating class of 978 students- we respected one another.

It's funny- 20 years later- there are no more cliques....just people. People with their own stories, their own messiness, their own triumphs. I missed these people. I think for most of my twenties I tried to forget the person i was in high school. He (me) seemed so needy, so starved for attention that I think i shunned some of the best parts of me in my twenties and thirties to separate myself from "appearing needy". At 37 years of age- I have needs but hopefully not as needy as i was at 17. i've thrown away that part of myself that went out of his way to meet friends, to learn peoples' names, to talk to anyone without it feeling awkward.

I don't know if i've done that or Christianity has done that...I know we are supposed to be a "light on a hill" but i think when you've been in Christian service for as long as i have- you forget how to talk about everyday things cause it's all "church" related.

On my 20 year reunion- i floated- i had to, I was in charge (more or less). I had the best time just talking. Just being - "me".

I was humbled by all the people that had been to skitguys.com and really seemed happy for me that i get to do what i love to do. I was amazed at how we aren't really, "old"- we've just "swelled" a bit. I was honored by the person that wanted to get our picture together so she could show her mom. (She was also the girl i would stare at everyday in gym class..before there was really a term like "stalker".). I was truly touched by Mike Truelock (the stud football player- every school has one.) who said "I always admired you Eddie". I was full of joy just "talking" to old friends. I still can lean back in my office chair and hear the laughter of a night that was truly memorable.

I'm not tooting my own horn at all. I'm just a little blown away still almost a month later. I've said on numerous times to anyone that would listen- high school was my "camelot". I was Homecoming King, Prom King and anything else one could get. Why? I think i worked really hard at being liked. I think I worked really hard at putting my zig ziglar book to work and really trying to know everyones' name. I worked at it. BUT i really liked people. Bottom line- I love the human spirit, I love emotions, I love personalities, I love souls figuring things out, I love talk and communication, I love laughter- I love people.



I forgot that. I needed that. Yes, I said it- needed.