Two Reunions: Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

In the last couple of months, I’ve had two mini-reunions with people who were important to me at different stages of my life. The gatherings were quite different, but both reminded me how nice it is to reconnect with old friends—and how sometimes I have to push myself to do it.

The first reunion was with four high-school friends I hadn’t seen in more than fifty years. I spent quite a bit of time with a couple of them back then, but we hadn’t stayed in touch, and I knew little about their lives since high school. We had a few friends in common, and I was Facebook friends with some of them, but that was about it.

The gathering brought back memories of high-school cliques. I didn’t socialize much in high school, and I thought of myself as a fringe member of several different groups rather than a firmly established member of any one of them. This group was one of those circles. Yet, more than half a century later, we chatted easily. It was interesting to hear what had happened in their lives, to discover what we had in common, and how we had changed. I was pleasantly surprised by how naturally the conversation flowed, despite the years and the distance between us.

A few weeks later, I met a college friend and her sister for dinner. This friend and I have stayed in frequent contact over the years, and we have tried to meet in person every few years. When we have met, our conversation flows as easily as if we were still living in the same dorm. Our last get-together was in 2019, before the pandemic. Since then, her husband has passed away, and I’ve taken on more caregiving responsibilities for my husband. We’ve both moved to retirement communities, although for different reasons. Our lives have changed in ways we couldn’t have anticipated when we were younger, but our friendship has endured.

Both reunions meant getting out of my usual routine. For the high-school reunion, I drove to an unfamiliar part of Western Washington, at the opposite corner of King County from where I live. Although I was still in the same county, the landscape was very different from my urban surroundings. That part of the county is much more rural, with farms and forests instead of city streets. I enjoyed the drive, and GPS kept me on track. It was a small adventure, but one I might have avoided if I’d let my reluctance to travel somewhere unfamiliar win out. Or if I’d let myself believe the get-together would have been difficult and stilted.

The college reunion presented a different challenge. I knew we’d have plenty to talk about, but getting there was another matter. I took a bus to downtown Seattle, something I hadn’t done in the two years since we moved here. I’ve taken light rail to the airport, so this was another step toward figuring out how to get around in my new community without always relying on a car. My bus trip went smoothly. Since I don’t enjoy driving downtown, perhaps I’ll be more willing to use public transportation for future outings.

As an introvert, I find it easier to stay home than to make plans, travel somewhere unfamiliar, and spend time socializing. But both of these reunions gave me a chance to reconnect with people who share a piece of my past. Both reminded me that friendships can remain meaningful even when our lives take very different paths.

I know staying socially connected is important as we get older. Still, it isn’t always easy to make myself do it. I’m glad I made the effort for these two reunions, and I hope I’ll be more willing to say yes the next time an opportunity comes along.

When have you stepped out of your comfort zone to reconnect with someone? Was it worth the effort?