High School Friends

[JoyeAustin]

Does anyone still keep in touch with their high school friends after many years... say fifteen or more? How's that going? Well, let me tell you that it's incredibly difficult to do. So much happens in your life on a day to day basis that if you live great distances away it's nearly impossible to keep your old friends involved. You grow distant, and pretty soon people who were your closest friends and knew you so well are nothing more than people you leave messages for once in a while on Facebook.

I really miss those friends, even after all these years. Yeah we're technically in touch--we know when we're pregnant or getting married or moving. But even visiting face to face is an awkward, weird thing. We still have this image in our minds of each other when were were gnarly little teenagers. Suddenly we're completely different, grown people with vastly different experiences.

I know there are many women who are still best friends for many years, if they live close to each other. Some women marry the guys they dated in high school and still have the same clique going on in their social circle. I have moved back to my home town after living far away for over ten years and there are several people in the area that I was close to at one point in my life, but that flame has not been rekindled. It makes me sad because I feel like I'm missing out on some good friends.

Maybe I just don't really belong here. Maybe I should go back to where I had a thriving social life. But go back where--to a physical location, like Austin or Seattle, where there was so much to do and so many more people like myself? Or back to a point in time, before I was married and had kids, when I was much more free. I'm not yet old but I feel aged.

[greenfairy614]

Mar. 14, 2008 at 6:51 PM I know the feeling, and I know exactly what you are talking about.  I have been best friends with a girl since my freshman year, and now that we are both married and have kids, we are no longer close.  People mature differently, and to me, she is still the same as when we were in high school.  I feel old compared to her.  I want to go out and have fun on the weekends, but I spend my time at home with my kids and my hubby.  Because that's what you do when you grow up.  She hasn't grown up, and still leaves the kids with her parents over the weekend so she can go out.  She has been married and divorced and is on her way to her second wedding at the young age of 24.  We don't fit together, so we aren't close anymore.  I get emails from her, and we look at each other's myspace.  But that's about it.  It's sad when friends grow apart.

[LJ1976]

Mar. 14, 2008 at 10:52 PM LOL - I absolutely hated high school, and my entire school hated me too.  I don't ever want to go back.  For the first time in my life, I'm happy.  But I am sorry to hear about your loneliness, sweetie - I'm here for you!!

[swiedeman]

Mar. 14, 2008 at 11:48 PM

I know how you feel. I have none of the same friends that I had in HS. My BFF and I were close for a couple years after graduation, but once I got married and started popin out kids she moved away never to be heard from again. Sad, really.

Joye - you are a great gal, give it some time and people will come around : )

[JoyeAustin]

Mar. 15, 2008 at 9:17 AM

Please blame this post on pregnancy hormones. Apparently I have the baby blues before I even have the baby. I get sad and dejected and then the next day feel really foolish. I really don't go around feeling this sorry for myself on a constant basis.

I know for a fact that I will feel much better when the season finally turns.

(Original Poster)

[bvona]

Mar. 15, 2008 at 9:29 AM I was apart from my h.s. friends for years and had changed so much since h.s. I was unrecognizable to them, but luckily for me, ive been able to reconnect with a few of them. It takes effort on both ends, though. Take the first step. Call them up and go out for lunch. You'll be surprised to find, I bet they miss you too!