Familar Strangers

(24th July, Day 43 of 112)

I met up with some school friends last night, most of whom I hadn’t met in nearly 10 years. Unsure of what to expect at the beginning, I came away from dinner smiling and nostalgic.

Even though it had been a long time since we’d last known/met each other (and really, how much do you really know about people when in school) yesterday did not have any of the discomfort or awkwardness attached to meeting almost strangers. I guess this was because we spent our formative years together, battling the worst years of our lives together – adolescence.

Last night made me very sure of one thing – being in school together redefines friendships and relationships. It doesn’t matter how well you knew each other in school or how many friendship bands you exchanged. The fact that you walked the same corridors and suffered the wrath and eccentricities of the same teachers creates a bond like no other. Of course it helps that any awkward silence can be overcome (very successfully at that) by asking “so who else are you in touch with?” or “so what is XYZ person up to these days?” These are guaranteed ice-breakers which will ensure lots of gossip (the fun and well-intentioned kind I think), laughter and reminiscing.

Conversation is generally never lacking when old friends meet up. There is too much to talk about – teachers we liked (or actually disliked), punishments we were put through, classmates that we all remembered (some fondly, some, well…, quirky experiences we had with each other (and remembered for no apparent reason) etc. Then there is also the catching up to do – ten years worth of it actually. And though one may gloss over the boring bits, the success stories and happy parts make it to dinner.

Ten years is a long time. Last night made this abundantly clear. I mean, ten years back we were a bunch of bratty, snooty, lazy, smart alecy, and pretty much your run of the mill youngsters (oh and we were also the despair of our teachers and parents. But that’s a given).

Yesterday we were an architect, a taxation lawyer, a dance guru, a designer, a television producer/director and a psychologist turned writer.

Ten years back we were classmates, housemates, teammates. Yesterday we were familiar strangers. It felt good.