The very first one!

Hello everyone!  I'm starting this blog for a couple of reasons.  First, I wanted to address issues that are probably of interest to my generation (motivated by my 30th Class Reunion).  Some of those topics:  Marriage and Divorce, Retirement, Education (ourselves and our kids), Parenting, Becoming a Grandparent, Earning money at home, Saving money, Taking care of our parents, Getting along with our Siblings.

I will also address some current events, movies, TV, Broadway shows, radio, weight, fitness, politics, and even Religion.  Oh no!  I'm gonna go there!  And I want this to be interactive - I want to hear your stories that will likely be very different from mine.  I'm just gonna let this be what it wants to be, letting it evolve and grow.  If there's something YOU want to talk about - we'll do that, too!

I have been so excited by getting to see so many people from high school on FaceBook.  I have also, however, had a difficult time with it.  As you can see, I have put on a substantial amount of weight.  I deal with chronic back pain that has caused me to require spinal injections (steroids) to relieve the pain.  Unfortunately, I've had to make the choice between pain relief and adding about 5-10 lbs everytime I have one.  I am now on the downhill side of not needing any for a while - and I'm slowly losing the weight.  I have not wanted to post any photos - I just don't have my picture taken very often.  Having been SO tiny way back when - and being a model - I haven't wanted to see anyone or show myself.  But I'm coming out of the shell and really WANT those connections again.

So I guess today I want to hear your stories about connecting with old friends again, or how you've stayed in touch all these years.  I really haven't stayed in touch with anyone from high school - some college - but not much earlier than those.  I think during the college years we try to forge somewhat new identities - separate from our families and young friends.  Sometimes those friendships don't fit in when we "come back home" after college. 

One of the things I noticed the most from past high school reunions (I only went to 5 and 10) was that at 5 years, we're still finding ourselves and everyone was crazy.  Alot are just getting married, finishing school, finding a career, and starting families.  At the 10 year reunion, we were all a lot more mature and settled in our lives.  How did this effect you?  I just thought it was interesting to see how we had all changed.  And now at 30 years, I see our kids finishing high school or college, getting married, having babies!  Are we really old enough to have grandchildren?

This blog is NOT just for my high school class - I just thought that would be a jumping off place.  So please come back if you're not in that group.

That's enough for today - let me hear from you!