High School Yearbooks

I recently pulled out my yearbooks from my last two years of high school. I hadn't looked at those things in years. I was 16 when I graduated from high school, so I've doubled up my life since. Certainly I made some interesting observations while flipping through those pages....

• Boy, was I skinny back then. I don't think I had developed any hips to speak of yet, and I had yet to discover the "freshman 15." But I thought I was fat! Weird...
  
• I was blond. Very, very blond.
  
• I loved Madonna then. I love Madonna now. I guess some things never change.
  
• Those popular guys I had crushes on don't look nearly so cute to me now. And the little pipsqueaks who had crushes on me look adorable (and are probably millionaire software moguls!)
• I always felt like a little bit of a geek - not part of the popular crowd. I certainly didn't ever party, was never in the homecoming court and I didn't get asked out very often. But looking back now, I realize that I was super-involved, got along with everyone and really had a positive high-school experience.
• I was sure I would be living in Hollywood by now. I would be acting, producing, directing. I would be a star!!
• Now that I'm a teacher myself, I can look at my high school teachers with a different level of respect. Even the ones I really didn't like. How they were able to put up with giggly, hormonal, distracted adolescents such as myself, I will never know!!
• My kids are going to laugh at those pictures some day. We all thought we were so cool. With my huge dangly earrings, parachute pants, and teased, sprayed-out hair, I look anything but cool!
• Mostly when I look back at my 15 and 16 year-old self, I think about how I felt like I knew everything. I had so many strong opinions about love, friendship, spirituality, right and wrong, where I would end up in life . . . If I've learned anything since, it's simply that life is unpredictable and people can surprise you.

Life is an incredible journey and I love that I've been able to adapt and change over the years. I am so grateful for everything I have and for the friends who enrich my life. I'd love to be able to tell that 16 year-old baby "Buckle your seat belt, girl, you are in for an incredible ride!" I'm excited to see what the next 16 have in store...