A Reunion That Felt Like Magic

A few weeks back we had a sort of unofficial elementary school reunion that felt like magic. It was a get-together that transported us back in time to Mrs. Little’s classroom: a time of simpler joys like the thrill of recess.

What was very heartwarming to me was how quickly the formalities just melted away and titles like “Dr.,” “CEO,” “Professor,” etc., simply disappeared, replaced by nicknames and inside jokes that only we understood. It was like we were kids again, sharing and resharing all our stories, like the time we got caught sneaking food from the cafeteria, the teachers we all secretly adored…or secretly dreaded.

Unfortunatley, even as we laughed about our old antics, I still noticed undertones in some of the conversations around the room: a few individuals still couldn’t resist the urge to subtly and sometimes not-so-subtly drop hints about their impressive careers or their kids’ outstanding academic achievements.

Sadly, even in the supposedly safe cocoon of childhood friendships, some of us were still measuring worth by accomplishments. It seems adult insecurities will still peek through, even when we are just trying to reconnect with simpler times.

“I still noticed undertones in some of the conversations around the room.”

My reflections on the reunion

Nostalgia has a delightful way of bridging gaps in time. You would be surprised how even a shared memory of failed childhood projects reignite bonds instantly. It seems those childhood connections are built to endure even when life has taken us in different directions.
The most meaningful moments of our reunion were the simplest ones: enjoying each other’s company and reminiscing about the past. There is a unique kind of joy in being with people who remind of how it all started.
Finally, even though it was disheartening to witness what I saw as subtle attempts to one-up each other, I learned that some people just so deeply crave validation. Perhaps it is a habit that we never really outgrow even when we are surrounded by people who knew us before we had anything to prove.

Before we parted, however, we agreed that the next time we would visit the school and walk the hallways one more time. Perhaps we can reconnect with that part of us that stayed behind in those classrooms of our childhood, even after we had gone far beyond the walls.

What about you? Have you reconnected with some really old friends and felt this way?

—

This post was previously published on medium.com.

***