We Are There

I found my old Ipod recently and I started listening to it. As the songs were shuffling through, "Graduation" started playing. Now, this is the song that was released during my graduating year from high school. So there are lots of memories associated with it. And listening to the lyrics, "And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives, Where we're gonna be when we turn 25", well, we are there. Where have the years gone? It's been 9 years. Almost a whole decade. It sounds like a long time ago, but the memories are still fresh in my mind.

How does life compare to what we thought it'd be? Are we living the way we thought we would? For me, personally, my life now is definitely far from the picture of what the 17-year-old me conjured. I definitely did not think that I'd be married, with a kid.

I do admit that there are times when I'd think, "what if?" and I admit that there are times where I'd wish that "if only...". However, as a whole, I have no major regrets. My baby is the light of my life. My husband is my rock, my best friend (although there are times that he's more of a PITA than anything else). Although I wish that we live closer to family, we are lucky enough to have stable jobs, a house, and all other material things that society deem important. And for that, I am grateful.

And all the things that I've agonized about as a teen...I now look back with a rueful smile and a shake of my head. Those things are truly trivial. Insignificant. Frivolous. But at that time, it felt like it was life or death.

I'm glad that I've grown up enough to realize it.

"Graduation (Friends Forever)"

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives

Where we're gonna be when we turn 25

I keep thinking times will never change

Keep on thinking things will always be the same

But when we leave this year we won't be coming back

No more hanging out cause we're on a different track

And if you got something that you need to say

You better say it right now cause you don't have another day

Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down

These memories are playing like a film without sound

And I keep thinking of that night in June

I didn't know much of love

But it came too soon

And there was me and you

And then we got real blue

Stay at home talking on the telephone

And we would get so excitedand we'd get so scared

Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair

And this is how it feels

As we go on, we remember all the times we had together

And as our lives change from whatever

We will still be friends forever

So if we get the big jobs

And we make the big money

When we look back now

Will our jokes still be funny?

Will we still remember everything we learned in school?

Still be trying to break every single rule

Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?

Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?

I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye

Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

We will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?

Can we survive it out there? Can we make it somehow?

I guess I thought that this would never end

And suddenly it's like we're women and men

Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?

Will these memories fade when I leave this town

I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye

Keep on thinking it's a time to fly