This week’s writing prompt from Writer’s Digest.

Writing Prompt for 6/28/05:

You can’t wait for your class reunion so you can tell all of your old school chums about what?

My Response:

This is hilarious. My next class reunion isn’t for three years, but I’ve already told quite a few of my classmates everything there is to know, thanks to our class of ’88 message board. Most importantly, although still introverted, I think I’ve proved that I’m no longer painfully shy and that perhaps I would have been worth talking to, had I tried harder back then to focus on the things I had in common with people instead of being worried about the things I didn’t.

So instead I’ll use this opportunity to wax philosophic on the joys of getting reacquainted with those who knew me when. Because of that message board, I have gotten to know former classmates much better than I ever did when I went to school with them, and in a way that I don’t think would have been possible had I simply run into them at a reunion. I’m quite impressed with the great things my classmates are doing, in big ways and small. And I’m amazed at how easy it’s been to jump into conversations like no time has passed at all. That’s an impressive feat for the girl who was “Most Shy.”

For certain, having participated in the message board for the last few months will make the 20th reunion a whole different experience for me than it would have been otherwise. These are people that I grew up with, even if I didn’t know them all well, and it only took me 17 years to appreciate that shared history. It’s been a truly eye opening experience and has taught me some things that I want to impart to my kids about their own self worth, when they reach that age.

Things are quieter around the message board these days as some of the initial fixation has worn off. It is perhaps not quite so addictive, but still lots of fun. And even if it ultimately goes bust (which I hope it does not), it will always hold a special place in my heart because of the individual new and renewed friendships that have developed. Who knew I would turn out to be such a sentimentalist?