10 Years

This week in 2003, I said good–bye to my high school friends and summer job, broke up with my first boyfriend and headed to college out of state. It seems like a million years ago and just yesterday all at once.  It was also probably a little more emotional than my 18 year old self was ready for.

Last weekend Brian and I headed to Maine so I could attend my ten year high school reunion with a good sized group of my peers.  There was a handful of people there who I’ve kept in touch with via Facebook, but there were also many other people who I hadn’t heard anything from or about since the day we walked across the stage.  On the way to the reunion, I mentioned to Brian that I feel like the first 10 year reunion sees the biggest change; ten years ago we were kids, now we have jobs and homes and spouses and kids.  A lot changes between eighteen and twenty-eight.  So I’ve been thinking about the past ten years and how much I’ve changed.  All the phases my life has gone through between high school graduation and now.  It occurred to me that there have been many people who, intentionally and accidentally, have had a huge impact on my life.  I’m pretty sure I haven’t thanked you sufficiently, so I thought I’d take a moment to do so now.  If you’ve been around at all since 2003, you’re probably referenced below, at least once.

Thank you for …

• helping me pay for my first car purchase

• putting up with me as a roommate

• telling me I might not be cut out to be a teacher

• believing that I could teach two subjects I had no experience in

• texting me photos of Connecticut traffic

• taking care of my sister

• visiting me in the Berkshires

• promoting my blog more than I do

• encouraging me to pursue a PhD in history

• rehiring me for the past 4 years

• introducing me to country music

• letting your son stay at my house when you didn’t even know me

• taking me shopping to find clothes that actually fit

• telling me not to rush things

• letting me go but always picking up the phone when I called

• telling me about Evernote

• visiting me at work in our college library

• driving me to classroom observations at the crack of dawn

• inspiring me to start a food blog

• sending texts that let me know you’re thinking of me

• making me get out of bed and make something of myself

• eating all my strange creations

• continuing to give me clothes and other things you don’t want anymore

• lending me your car

• emailing me regularly

• allowing me to move back home after college graduation

• making me mix CDs

• teaching me to can

• visiting me just in time to endure Valentines Day 2004

• helping us move

• giving us furniture

• letting me be part of your wedding

• debating with me

• recommending Arrested Development, Downton Abbey and New Girl

• asking me to advise your club

• letting us pick up your CSA share before we had one

• teaching me how to play Settlers of Catan, Dungeons and Dragons, Pandemic, Puerto Rico and Pass the Pigs

• inviting me to join the board

• exposing me to pierogies and smoked oysters

• telling me it’s okay to wait to have kids

• coming over for dinner

• sitting with me in the hospital

• taking me to good restaurants

• teaching me how to blow dry my hair

• accompanying me on my first vacation without adults

• asking me to drive to Colorado with you

• giving me nicknames that stuck

• trying to teach me to dance

• encouraging me to run my first (and second) races

• giving me classroom management advice

• reading my blog