There are certain periods of life that one would prefer to repress to the darkest recesses of memory. Times such as when you thought bell-bottoms were cool, the night you may or may not have had a little bit too much to drink and things got a little too crazy..times such as middle school.
These days with the ever-present Facebook it is very easy to keep in touch with those from your formative years with just a simple “Hey! How are you?!” on their wall or the ever personal “Happy Birthday!” because obviously you had that date imprinted…on your homepage. And let’s be honest, we are all guilty of it – checking up on profiles of people you don’t, in all honesty, have that much interest in keeping up with, but are curious about. Facebook can answer alllll sorts of questions such as where are they at school (did they go ivy? liberal arts?), their crazy halloween weekend costumes, and whether or not they have let themselves go. (Just remember the camera does add five pounds for those of you planning to look me up right after this)
Now, you might be asking, what has brought on this bought of pontification? (yes, I did just use that word to sound smarter…I am preparing to get back to Swarthmore, afterall!) Last night, out and about in the city (at the legal age of 21) I found myself running into people right and left that I hadn’t seen in YEARS. One of my companions on this particular occasion asked the very astute question, “You know I see you running into all of these old acquaintances. How do you catch up after like 7 or 8 years? I mean how do you capture all that time with all of the loud music, drinking and loud people around you?” Good question. You really can’t so my plan of action has to smile and nod and just answer the questions I am asked.
The craziest part is how much comes back to you when you are face to face with a couple of the boys, now “collegiate men”, who were part of the entourage lighting candle #12 on your bat mitzvah cake. And that’s where you crrrrriiinggeeeeee…
