I recognized the sender since she had been one of my closest friends at high school. Ilene had handwritten at the bottom of the invitation, Diane, I found you in the online white pages. Please, please, say youll come! I was touched, excited and simultaneously felt that old, Oh, no,” feeling.

It was more emotion than I’d felt in a long time. Of course I’ll go. But why the mysterious, Oh, no, feeling?

Since receiving the invitation, I’ve noticed people in a new way, on the street, in stores, wherever I go. No one seems out of place, too old or odd. They are just right in the moment. So am I. As we age, we develop a quiet confidence about life in general and what comes up in our daily lives however unexpected. But a high school reunion would throw anyone for a loop.

I think of my good friends at that time. How would our relationships be different if we met for the first time now in our 50s? Are we essentially the same people with the idealism beat out of us? Would we find we had the same things in common? Would we still be attracted to the same good friends at this time in our lives? Would I be entering the proverbial timewarp where nothing has changed? Do we ever change? God knows, I haven’t aged a bit. I hated that high school graduation pic anyway and I can’t wait to hear my old friends say “My, you haven’t changed a bit Diane.”

I have so many questions and I cant wait to see my (truly!) old classmates again. Oh yes, the anticipation is killing me. I can’t wait to hear “You are the Sunshine of My Life” again, and see some of those dance moves.