This is messy, vivid, and so alive. It feels like you dropped the reader straight into the night with you, no filters, no cleanup, just the experience as it unfolded.
What really stands out is how you hold multiple versions of yourself at once. The 6, 16, and 28 year old all showing up in the same room is such a powerful way to describe that feeling. It makes the whole piece hit deeper than just a reunion story.
There’s also something really compelling about the tension between fitting in and knowing you don’t fully belong. You let yourself move through it without forcing a resolution, and that honesty makes it land.
And that ending, realizing you didn’t do anything except exist, feels quietly huge. It reads like a small moment on the surface, but it carries a lot of healing underneath.
It’s raw in a way that works. Nothing feels over-processed, and that’s exactly what gives it weight.
Your drunk ramblings are surprisingly easy to keep up with!! It’s also not surprising though because you ARE an amazing writer drunk or not lol. Your thought process was unfiltered and entertaining but also still deep and relatable! I graduated in 2015 and that doesn’t feel that long ago until I think about how it’s 2026 🥲 i like how you viewed it in the end as just an interesting night with these people that were part of different periods of your life, and in reality they all have their own crazy lives too and it’s cool to just be existing and crossing paths at the same time on this earth 🌎
Ya I think and maybe I say above that perhaps part of my loner social anxiety in high school can be attributed as well to some ego developed by going through what I went through at the same time they all were partying. I felt kind of “better than” to cloak from how removed I was and how I skipped whole chapters that I probably needed to live through too.
All of this to say this reunion was suuuper humbling for me because it was so clear that we are all now just imperfect adults trying to figure it all out. I’m right there with them.
I definitely get the social anxiety, it’s a current work in progress for me. Sometimes it is a protection like I prefer to shield myself. I have to catch myself and say fuck that sometimes when my fear of being perceived gets way out of balance! We’re all navigating own trails and I think you’re doing great. Your wisdom, humor and kindness shows 🩷
im so glad i stumble upon this post. this would so be me. wine drunk to ease the anxiety of small talk and reliving hs dynamics.. im a 2016 graduate too (we’re not old right?) and contemplating going to my 10year reunion. i’ve already told myself I probably won’t go, but a part of me is curious—mayyybe for research and reflection purposes lol. the drunk unfiltered honesty in this hooked me in. i never really fit in either nor did i want to back then. funny thing, i actually ended up dating a guy from my highschool whom i never had any interactions with then but we had many of the same acquaintances. i think it’s for the best we never interacted until many years later. i would’ve only seen the highschool version of him and not the beautiful person he is today. anyway, im rambling now but i thoroughly enjoyed this and its kind of enticing me to go aha—instant sub 💓
Ahhhh welcome in girlie! I love this and the support thank you!!
I didn’t start dating my husband R until right after I graduated (and he was 2 years removed) and he always says we should’ve dated in hs but I always tell him no no we weren’t ready for each other yet so I get it!
You’re braver than me, because even if I still lived in my hometown, I would not have the courage to go to my high school reunion! This was fun to read and made me feel old at 29 lol (RIP class of 2014). I would be really interested in articles about the breakdown or drift in your friendship with C due to dating her brother. I’ve always gone back and forth about how great it would be to have a best friend become literal family, but pop culture and your story tend to project it being a one way ticket to a friendship breakup.
Hmmm this is definitely something I can write about at least from my POV, I don’t think C and I were meant to be life long friends. Not the way I am with M anyway but M also briefly dated R and that was sticky and weird for many years too.
It’s quite a tale haha maybe one I shall write soon!
kudos to you for having the bravery to attend your high school reunion AND also share your 2am drunk thoughts on it- i always love the honesty that's apparent in all your articles! such a treat to have these stories to read :-)
Juuuune, please not "aging yourself" with having graduated 10 years ago. now I feel like an old man on the couch.
Also, loved to have come to your reunion, I did not go to mine, which I think is for the better, because the wine would've made me tell people how I really feel about them, for better or for worse lol!
My prom was a big drunk. Reminded me of some antics I pulled. Ended up at the end of the prom walking a girl home from it as neither one of use could find a ride. It was five miles to her house and about 7 miles to my house. I got home about four hours after I was supposed to. Man, that was some serious walking on the side of an interstate road. My senior party I was so drunk, which the school no long supports, I ended up walking home 5 miles in the rain. Thanks for reminding me why I don't drink anymore. Papa - - - Check out my website and subscribe - I subscribed to you.
This is messy, vivid, and so alive. It feels like you dropped the reader straight into the night with you, no filters, no cleanup, just the experience as it unfolded.
What really stands out is how you hold multiple versions of yourself at once. The 6, 16, and 28 year old all showing up in the same room is such a powerful way to describe that feeling. It makes the whole piece hit deeper than just a reunion story.
There’s also something really compelling about the tension between fitting in and knowing you don’t fully belong. You let yourself move through it without forcing a resolution, and that honesty makes it land.
And that ending, realizing you didn’t do anything except exist, feels quietly huge. It reads like a small moment on the surface, but it carries a lot of healing underneath.
It’s raw in a way that works. Nothing feels over-processed, and that’s exactly what gives it weight.
thank you so much!
Your drunk ramblings are surprisingly easy to keep up with!! It’s also not surprising though because you ARE an amazing writer drunk or not lol. Your thought process was unfiltered and entertaining but also still deep and relatable! I graduated in 2015 and that doesn’t feel that long ago until I think about how it’s 2026 🥲 i like how you viewed it in the end as just an interesting night with these people that were part of different periods of your life, and in reality they all have their own crazy lives too and it’s cool to just be existing and crossing paths at the same time on this earth 🌎
Ya I think and maybe I say above that perhaps part of my loner social anxiety in high school can be attributed as well to some ego developed by going through what I went through at the same time they all were partying. I felt kind of “better than” to cloak from how removed I was and how I skipped whole chapters that I probably needed to live through too.
All of this to say this reunion was suuuper humbling for me because it was so clear that we are all now just imperfect adults trying to figure it all out. I’m right there with them.
I definitely get the social anxiety, it’s a current work in progress for me. Sometimes it is a protection like I prefer to shield myself. I have to catch myself and say fuck that sometimes when my fear of being perceived gets way out of balance! We’re all navigating own trails and I think you’re doing great. Your wisdom, humor and kindness shows 🩷
always in progress is the best thing you could ever be, there is strength in your courage to try again and again
im so glad i stumble upon this post. this would so be me. wine drunk to ease the anxiety of small talk and reliving hs dynamics.. im a 2016 graduate too (we’re not old right?) and contemplating going to my 10year reunion. i’ve already told myself I probably won’t go, but a part of me is curious—mayyybe for research and reflection purposes lol. the drunk unfiltered honesty in this hooked me in. i never really fit in either nor did i want to back then. funny thing, i actually ended up dating a guy from my highschool whom i never had any interactions with then but we had many of the same acquaintances. i think it’s for the best we never interacted until many years later. i would’ve only seen the highschool version of him and not the beautiful person he is today. anyway, im rambling now but i thoroughly enjoyed this and its kind of enticing me to go aha—instant sub 💓
Ahhhh welcome in girlie! I love this and the support thank you!!
I didn’t start dating my husband R until right after I graduated (and he was 2 years removed) and he always says we should’ve dated in hs but I always tell him no no we weren’t ready for each other yet so I get it!
of course <3 & wow yes exactly, so true! see everything unfolds in perfect timing
You’re braver than me, because even if I still lived in my hometown, I would not have the courage to go to my high school reunion! This was fun to read and made me feel old at 29 lol (RIP class of 2014). I would be really interested in articles about the breakdown or drift in your friendship with C due to dating her brother. I’ve always gone back and forth about how great it would be to have a best friend become literal family, but pop culture and your story tend to project it being a one way ticket to a friendship breakup.
Hmmm this is definitely something I can write about at least from my POV, I don’t think C and I were meant to be life long friends. Not the way I am with M anyway but M also briefly dated R and that was sticky and weird for many years too.
It’s quite a tale haha maybe one I shall write soon!
kudos to you for having the bravery to attend your high school reunion AND also share your 2am drunk thoughts on it- i always love the honesty that's apparent in all your articles! such a treat to have these stories to read :-)
Hehe I was like hmmm if I read this again I might not post it so here we go!! I was laughing this morning 🫣🤣
Juuuune, please not "aging yourself" with having graduated 10 years ago. now I feel like an old man on the couch.
Also, loved to have come to your reunion, I did not go to mine, which I think is for the better, because the wine would've made me tell people how I really feel about them, for better or for worse lol!
Oh I got LUCKY that no one I actually had strong feelings about attended this shin dig or I’d have been in serious trouble
this was like we were sharing a glass of wine together and I was listening to your stories… i loved it
haha we basically were 🥂
reminds me of me 😂
hahaha obessed
My prom was a big drunk. Reminded me of some antics I pulled. Ended up at the end of the prom walking a girl home from it as neither one of use could find a ride. It was five miles to her house and about 7 miles to my house. I got home about four hours after I was supposed to. Man, that was some serious walking on the side of an interstate road. My senior party I was so drunk, which the school no long supports, I ended up walking home 5 miles in the rain. Thanks for reminding me why I don't drink anymore. Papa - - - Check out my website and subscribe - I subscribed to you.
hahaha sometimes it’s fun to be a kid because there are almost no consequences
Oh always consequences but sometimes I just didn't care!
my sister made me get nails over the weekend and it shows in my drunk inability to type here LOL