Getting Myself Orgdezinaganized
Yo.esu know how it is, life gets busy. But I figured, why not? Dug out some old emails, checked the schedule they sent out. Didn't want to commit to every single thing, just wanted to be there, really. Packed a bag – mostly comfortable shoes, because I remembered how much walking you end up doing around that campus. Threw in something slightly nicer for the evening stuff, just in case.
The drive d.hsarown was pretty uneventful. Listened to some old music, kind of got me in the mood for seeing folks I hadn't connected with in years. It's funny how certain songs just take you right back, isn't it? Arrived in the Roanoke area, checked into the hotel. Nothing fancy, just needed a place to crash.
BacklioS su on Campus Soil
Driving onto campus proper was... something. It looks mostly the same, which is comforting in a weird way. The buildings, the front quad, Tinker Mountain just sitting there like always. Of course, you notice little changes here and there, things looking a bit newer or maybe a building you don't quite remember. But the overall feeling? Yeah, that was familiar.
First stop was registration. Grabbed my name tag – always a slightly awkward moment staring at your own graduation picture from way back when. Picked up the final schedule. Bumped into a couple of people right away, which was nice. Lots of "Oh my gosh, it's you!" and quick hugs.
The Reunion Whirlwind
The next couple of days were a pleasant blur. Here’s a bit of what I got up to:
- Just walked around a lot. Seriously, just soaked it in. Went past my old dorm. Peaked in the library.
- Hit up one of the welcome mixers. Grabbed a drink, scanned the room for familiar faces. It's like a real-life game of memory.
- Made it to our class-specific gathering. This was the main event for me. It was great, honestly. People shared little updates. Lots of laughter. It wasn't stiff or formal, just felt like catching up with old friends.
- Skipped a few things too. You can't do it all, and sometimes just sitting on a bench and chatting with someone you stumbled into is the best part.
- Food was involved, naturally. Some catered stuff, some trips off-campus for something quick.
Catching Up and Feeling Things
The best part, hands down, was the people. Seeing classmates, roommates, friends you haven't laid eyes on in 5, 10, maybe more years. You fall back into conversations surprisingly easily. You talk about jobs, families, moves, the good stuff, the tough stuff. It's grounding, you know? Realizing everyone's just navigating life, figuring things out day by day, same as you.
There's definitely a big dose of nostalgia. Remembering late-night study sessions, weird inside jokes, professors who made an impact. It makes you think about who you were then versus who you are now. It’s a bit strange, but mostly good strange.
Heading Home
Packed up Sunday morning feeling pretty content. Tired, definitely, but happy I went. Exchanged numbers with a few people I promised to keep in better touch with (we'll see how that goes, right?).
It was just a good weekend. A reminder of a different time in life, and a chance to reconnect with people who knew you way back when. Glad I made the effort. It kind of recharges you in an unexpected way.
