Wednesday night, my friend L calls me, and asks, "Dr.P, are you going to the reunion?" I said, "Nah. I don't want to go alone, and I don't know what I'll say to people. You're married and pregnant, and so is half of the class."

Her response, "Dr.P, its not like you're a stripper who does nails. You are doing stuff, and you can come with us."

So Saturday night, off to my 10 year high school reunion I went.

When we got the venue, L and I were saying things like, "Should we turn around?" and "What did we get ourselves into?"

Once we actually got out of the car, it was more like, "Who's that?"

Then me, L and her husband walked inside, got our little name tags, and went into the banquet hall.

Some faces looked familiar. Lots of change in hair colors. Someone said hi to me, and I said, "Oh, hi." 20 seconds later I realized who she was, and went up to apologize for seeming a bit rude.

I saw a group of people I used to be close friends with in high school. That was interesting, because they are all still close friends. It was good to catch up. I have to say the best part of the night was chatting with the people I still talk to about everyone in the room. You still had people who would only mingle with others in 'their' little "IT" crowd. Lots of pregnant women which was a little crazy to see.

I talked to the football player I had the biggest crush on in high school, who is not so cute anymore. I chatted with my friends from the second grade, 2 of my old neighbors, my tennis doubles partner, and a whole slew of people. I made it a point not to hang around my friends who I talk to on a regular basis, but to try to talk to the people I haven't seen. After all, thats why I was there. One guy who I hardly talked to in high school (and would not have talked to me either) bought me a drink, and 3 people told me that I have a great ass. It was nice to hear people tell me I look good, and I have to admit, I enjoyed their reactions when I told them a little about my life.

It was a surreal experience. I moved into this town when I was 6. I shared 10 schooling years with a lot of the people in that room. When I looked around at the faces I recognized, part of me was surprised that some of us grew apart, and maybe it was meant to be that way. We had our life together, and we've taken the people we wanted to take for the rest of our journey.

The night was one of mingling. I dont know how reunions are supposed to go, but only one person made a speech. I think I built it up so much, that I was slightly disappointed. I didn't reconnect with anyone in a grand way, meaning I didn't walk out with anyone's contact information. There was a lot of, "You should visit me when I move to Maine!" or "Next time you're in the city, give me a call!" I think thats a natural thing to say, but no one on either part made the effort to get a phone number or an email. Some people live around here, and maybe I'll bump into them. Maybe I have bumped into them, but I didnt know who they were. In any case, my parents live in the same house, so I guess if anyone really wanted to know they could call, and I could do the same.

One important lesson I learned from the night was that I am happy with where I am right now. I'm not supposed to be married and pregnant, I'm supposed to be in school getting this degree. I'm also happy with who I am right now and how much I have changed for the better in 10 years. "In crowd" and "Out crowd" ? In my world, that has dissipated, and I'm glad I could let go of those distinctions.

Last but not least, I am extremely thankful for the friends who have stayed in my life through these past 10 years. I know they will be around for many more. Maybe it wasnt the life changing night I thought it would be, but I realized so many important things I didn't give myself credit for knowing already.

Time to call the girls and gossip.

Im in the 2.5 hour of procrastination.

This Saturday is my 10 year high school reunion. I thought I would go with the notion of, "If this one sucks, I'll never go again."

Somehow now, I vehemently do NOT want to go.

The thought didn't come out of thin air. I know where it came from.

And its silly. Because I look better know than I did in high school, and I (hope) I'm on my way to a great career.

But...

Since everyone has been getting back in contact with everyone, there are updates after updates...and a good majority of the group are married, or married and pregnant. I know someone who knows someone who is putting together a little album of her daughter to show to people. For the 'picture wall', people are sending pictures of their children.

I understand their love for their kids, but I have a feeling that I'll be on a different plane than everyone. Actually, the people I know of who would be in the same wavelength as me aren't going. (I've been taking a poll)

Most of my friends are bringing their significant others for moral support, in case they don't have anyone to talk to. Part of me wants to bring someone because in high school I never had a date except for my prom date, and I wasnt the girl who anyone liked in that way. I dont want to be looked at the same way.

I can show up at any event alone. But reunions are not just an event to enjoy. Its a scale of where you've been, how far you've come, and where you're going. I know I've come a long way. Maybe its a fear of realizing that I really haven't.

Ok, so a small portion of me REALLY wants to go. I wonder who I'll see, and it would be nice to know if some people have changed. I wonder what it will feel like being transported back in time for a couple hours. Will it be enjoyable or will I puke? And do I really want this question answered, because Im happy with the current movement of time.

I'll make a decision in the 11th hour. That's for sure.

I need to vent.

I paraphrase by saying I love my best friend very very very very very very very much.

With that being said...

Yesterday was her 28th birthday. She devised a whole plan of going into the city to this Jamaican restaurant we love, and going to a hip-hop club afterwards. We both checked online for the hip hop places, and she decided on one.

There were 4 of us who went--two 28 year olds, one 27 year old, and one 25 year old.

We drove. Which was great. The drive down was fantastic, we were laughing, joking around, and having a fun time.
When we were into the city, we got a flat tire (not my car, but maybe I send out flat tire vibes) So even though we got into the city pretty quick, the hour we would have (normally) spent driving, we used to wait for someone to change the flat.

One rude guy changed the flat, we had a very yummy dinner at the great Jamaican restaurant, and afterwards we walked to the club.

The club was everything she asked for...hip hop/reggae with mixed crowd, but not trendy.

We were there 10 minutes, and she decided she wanted to leave because the music was too loud.

This bugged me A LOT.

I should have seen it coming though. I know if I went to this same club with Roomie, we would have had oodles of fun. But Best Friend had everything she asked for, and wasnt happy, and didnt even try. Best Friend has a trend of not trying to have fun. If she's not enjoying herself from the minute she walks in, she's not going to try. Plus, one of my friends who is newly engaged, wanted to go home for a while.

When we were in Miami, I had the most fun at the club because she and the other girl (who was also at the birthday), didnt really interact or even dance. I made sure I did, and I did it on my own.

The kink thrown in this is that R was supposed to join us. I had been in contact with him the entire time. Once we decided to leave the club, I couldnt get a hold of him. His phone kept ringing and ringing. I tried calling him for 45 minutes, and the girls were getting restless to leave. Im not sure what happened.

I slept in the car the whole way home. Good thing too, because the Irritation meter was going through the roof. I dont like it when people cant even try to enjoy a place.

I know Im just frustrated since its not the first time we've ended up in this situation. I'm also mad because I have loads of work to do, and I stayed out until 4am to be with people who did NOT attempt to have a good time. I could have gone to the University hockey game with my friends, it was Bhangra night at the grad student pub...there were other things I wanted to do with people who WANTED to go. I'm now tired, and have to somehow do some work.

Next year, I'm just taking her out to dinner.

Weird point #1: My old dermatologist is now giving skin advice on Oprah.

Moving on...

Today I went to court to contest my $148 speeding ticket that was (un)rightfully bestowed upon me the 6th of June of this year. (I sent in my not guilty plea right away, and this is the date I got)

Since I'm such a straight arrow, I was excited to be a lawbreaker/hoodlum/Gangsta for a morning.

My court time was 10am, and I got there at 9:45 (part of me was still straight arrow this morning) to find a line extending outside the courthouse. It was worse than going to the DMV or Christmas shopping. I hung out in line. The people in front of me were speaking Spanish, so I was trying to see how much I could understand.

Once I went through courthouse security, I stood in another long line, and we ended up chatting about the line itself. Lots of people brought their kids, so it was really beginning to look like the mall.

The courtroom was a little room. I gave my name and took my seat. It looked like a dingy old courtroom and not like the ones on the Practice. Much to my disappointment, Dylan McDermott was nowhere to be found.

The courtroom was divided into 4 sections and each person went to the lawyer who was done with someone first. So it was all in order.

My chosen one was a nice, white young man. Being that I was in the courthouse of the town with one of the highest crime rates in the country, he cut to the chase.

"So where were you going?" he asked.

"Home," I replied.

"Were you speeding?"

"Not really," I said.

"You were going 80 in a 55. How fast did you think you were going?"

"65." (which is a complete lie)

"Since you were so honest with me, I'll reduce your ticket to $50 (from $148)."

In less than 5 minutes, my first court experience was all done.

The fun part was when I was waiting in line to pay. My courthouse buddy from the first line was there, and another guy with a $300 reduced to $100 ticket was there, and 3 other women. We all ended up talking about our tickets and complaining about where we were stopped, why, and the cost of the ticket. A prime example of misery loving company.

I found out that I am destined for stardom.

Friday night was the grad school's
Diwali show, and yours truly, along with 3 of her friends did a Marati dance.

First, it was fun getting dressed up. We wore sari's in a Maharashtrian style, which meant that it looked like we were wearing pants. (I cant find a decent pic on the net) Once we were all decked out, jewelry and makeup on, we headed to watch the show.

There was a huge turnout. Saw my friends, my T.A. (Teaching assistant). CLS Boy and 2 of my friends from outside school came. The show was pretty good so far, minus the predictable technical difficulties.

Cutting to the chase, we were waiting to go on stage. The guy announced us, and the crowd started roaring. I heard people yelling my name, my friends name, our division name...it was so great. When the music came on, and the spotlight was on us, everything just flowed. I was smiling from ear to ear.

Let me digress...this week I was hit with the worst cold of my life. I was sneezing and coughing during dress rehearsal, and having a hard time breathing. People were telling me to smile more, and as cranky as I was, I retorted, "I would, but I just cant breathe right now."

Somehow the cold lifted from me, and I had a great time. I looked out to the audience, and saw a few familiar faces smiling back at me. Before I knew it, our 4 minutes was done. It was crazy that all those weeks of practicing finished in a blink of an eye. Is this how Britney feels?

Then the crowd was roaring again. After the show everyone was telling us how good we were.

The only glitch was that before the show we decided to exit stage left. When we ended (because we end in a pose), 2 of them went left, and my friend turned right...pretty much walking into me. But the lights were dim, so it wasnt that noticeable.

Anyway, I felt like a superstar!

Afterwards, -my 2 friends and I went to get some food. I hung out with them, and I really wanted to go to the afterparty. I guess since the dance was over, my cold decided to descend upon me leaving me violently coughing, and blowing my nose every 10 seconds. So I went home, and me, - Roomie, and Roomie's boyfriend all hung out while I was forced to drink herbal tea.

I dont really think I'm destined for superstardom. I couldnt even make it to the afterparty.

I don't like what just happened.

I'm not one to get political on my blog, but today is a very important day.

I was online with a good friend of mine who lives in New Jersey this morning. We were chatting about her daughter, and I told her how I was excited to go and vote.

She asked me who I was voting for.

"Kerry!" was my enthusiastic reply.

She told me that her husband went to his home in New York just so he could vote. For Bush.

Fine, I thought. To each their own.

Then she proceeded to tell me how no one in her church would vote for anyone who believes in same sex marriages and partial third trimester abortion. (I didnt know there was a debate on partial third trimester abortion either)...then she told me that all Kerry knows how to do is talk on and on.

I agreed with her on the partial third trimester abortion bit. But the fact that someone would base their vote on the basis of same sex marriages was appalling. I first found it sad that there are people who dont want to promote love, and second, is banning same sex marriages going to provide more jobs, end the war, boost the economy, and bring health care out of the toilet?

I promptly got offline with her and went to exercise my right to vote.

*which I should say was a great experience. I felt very powerful. It was great to see people in the town come together for the hopeful benefit of our country. The best part was the voting was held at my old elementary school. I can't believe how many years have gone by and how my concerns were so different then. The world was outside my realm.