Senior year, revisited

I recently had the unexpected 'pleasure' of catching up with an old high school friend. She and I were once very close during a time when flare jeans were still super cool, Leonardo DiCaprio was still hot as the sun and Tom Cruise had a thin shred of dignity left. You might not remember those days but I certainly do.

Anyway, Tina and I started talking again. But, I can't forget that Tina's personality in high school took an unexpected turn for the worse. Originally, she was sweet and charming. The cute but dumpy friend you could depend on when you were sick from school and needed good notes. She was a confidant, a hip music lover (she liked Dave Matthews Band before I knew who the hell they were) and more importantly she was funny. Something like the perfect addition to my tiny band of friends back then. But out of nowhere she became moody. She started spreading gossip like wild fire. She alienated me with her better-than-thou attitude and I eventually let go. I figured, "Hey, I don't need to take this shit for the sake of friendship. I'd rather be alone."

Fast forward to about last month. I got a strange email from my old friend. I can't say that our relationship ended badly. We just fell away from each other. But it was still shocking to hear from her. Out of blue thin air. We started talking, anyway. I thought to myself, "Self, why not give her another chance? Isn't it umpteen years since high school finished out? How do you know she hasn't changed?"

With that I launched head-first into the kooky and complicated details of my life up til now. She responded to the email with her own life story and threw in some quirky tales about a few of our old acquaintances. In a separate email, I asked about a couple of people she didn't mention. I received a full-page report on the lives, loves, traumas and betrayals of our entire old crew. It was jarring, to say the least. She still does that. So... what if my love situation turns sour? (G-d in Heaven forbid: divorce!!) I can expect to have my business splattered around the streets like last weeks issue of OK magazine in a mud puddle or what? It makes me cautious to see that she still thirsts to spread and incubate rumors and gossip. And then it made me wonder.... how much can a person really change in a handful of years? I don't know *looks in mirror* I really can't say.