Memory Lane Has Become a 4-Lane Freeway

I know, it's been a really long time since I last promised part 2 of the summer memoirs.  Sadly, it will still be delayed a while as I've been.....distracted with other memories.

It's Facebook's fault.  Honestly, when I first signed up for Facebook, I had no idea it would be the ticket to finding (and being found by) friends from my past.  At first, I just touched base with local friends.....but as time wore on (and MySpace's popularity died), more people started popping up.  Groups were created for high schools and middle schools I'd attended, bringing more names to the forefront.  Alumni groups brought in an even tighter circle of friends.

It's really hard to find where I fit in the alumni groups.  I graduated from Hidden Valley High School in Grants Pass, Oregon (where I live now), but I only attended the school my senior year, so I never felt like I fit in.  I met a few people and made friends, but as far as being close to them - well, not so much.  My junior year I attended Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington, but I hardly knew anyone there and was miserable at that school, so I don't even really acknowledge it in my memories.  Sammamish High School (also in Bellevue) is where I feel most connected, having attended my freshman and sophomore year (plus attending middle school for 8th grade with a lot of the students at Sammamish).  However, since I didn't graduate from the school, I really don't fit in the alumni group, right?  I really wanted to attend the 20th year reunion this last weekend,  but I had scheduling conflicts and grandma is just too unstable to leave on her own.  I've been looking at pictures and hearing stories on the Alumni Facebook page, and it's bittersweet.  How different things might have been had I been able to stay at Sammamish and graduate....but it was impossible.  We were forever moving (I went to 13 schools in 12 years), and my junior year we moved out of the school district.

I really envy those of you who have memories of growing up with the same people all through your school years.  It was the impetus behind staying in this town to allow Faith to have that opportunity herself....she's gone to the same schools with the same kids since Kindergarten.  I think it makes a huge difference in building character, not having to be "the new kid" all the time.

So.....forgive me if part 2 of the memoirs are a little late....I'm soaking in a different era of nostalgia right now :)