Nothing Changes…and Everything Changes

I had a wonderful, wonderful weekend involving:

• hours of chatting with some of the people who have known me since I was 18 years old
• pizza lunches
• lots of alcohol*
• drinking games*
• not much sleep
• noise warnings from police
• gossip

*I didn’t take part, obviously, although I did play games and chug seltzer water

And if you looked at those bullets alone, you might think I was still in college. Because as it turns out, nothing changes. I had the privilege of crashing at the Boston-area house of my college BFF along with our roommates (minus one — we missed you, Ali!) for a weekend of catching up. We graduated together 10 years ago (see my message to this year’s grads here) and in many, many ways, it was like stepping back in time.

We told the same stories, laughed at the same jokes, pulled some stunts and acted like 18-year-olds. Just like we did the last time we were together for an extended period of time.

Of course, it was a 72-hour break from reality. And there were reminders of that reality all weekend, too. My pregnant belly. My friend’s 9-month-old paying us a visit. Stomach distress from said pizza lunches (how did I survive on grease for four years? I can barely make it two days now).

My favorite thing about true friends is that no matter what happens or how much time goes by, you always have something to talk about. That was definitely the case this weekend and even though I was glad to come home (you really don’t appreciate central air conditioning and private bathrooms until you don’t have them), I’m sad at the thought that it could be years before we’re all together again. Life gets in the way (not to mention budgets) and it’s a reminder that when it comes to opportunities, it’s crucial to grab the important ones.