Dear 16 Year Old Self

      At this point in my life, my 10 year high school reunion and the generally over-partied, under-achieving, Chugiak High School Class of  2001 seems so irrelevant. I have kids, a job, a handsome husband, a somewhat busy schedule, family I'm dying to visit, and to be frank, hundreds of people I'd rather meet up with. Plus, for the few friends I still want to keep in contact with, there's facebook.
            That said, I'll probably attend.  My 10 year reunion happens to be the same week I'll be in Alaska with my family going fishing and running a trail marathon, and it will be ridiculously convenient to swing by for a slice of pizza.  One last time, I'll be the weird one who doesn't drink. I've decided to look at it as not so much a gathering of people I no longer care about, but instead a celebration of my roots and a way to embrace the cherished memories, exponential growth, and new friends/family life has gifted me in the last 10 years.

        A  college roommate posted on facebook a link to a youtube video "Dear 16 year old me" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM ) that inspired some thought.
Since I've been thinking a bit about the wanton, perpetually late, 17 year -old -me that graduated 10 years ago I'm inspired to think about the few surprises and regrets that have snuck up on me.


Dear 16 year old self:

• You're going to fall in love. When you do, it will be like fireworks. It will be consuming. It will be just like every mushy love song you've ever heard. And you're going to love every minute of it.
• Just be yourself. Give other people that same courtesy. It makes life easier.
• Go to class your freshman year of college. No, seriously.
• Don't ever start drinking soda. Don't ever stop playing your violin, doing soccer, or writing handwritten letters.
• You'll have a son who calls you his snuggle bug, tells you you're pretty, picks you flowers, catches fire flies, and absolutely makes your world go round. 
• Do NOT wait to go to grad school. 
• There will be a time where life hurts. You'll get through it.
• You'll be blessed with a new, curly-haired, blue-eyed, baby girl.
• You'll enjoy living where ever life takes you. . . even the Midwest.
• Get more calcium.
• Ditch your boyfriends.
• Don't eat the sausage in Ukraine.
• You'll marry someone you ALREADY KNOW. Crazy, I know.
•  Believe it or not, there really will come a day where you wish you'd have worn sunscreen.