That's Melanie at 2, barefoot in the kitchen, talking on the phone, with a baby on her hip. Right out of a Gretchen Wilson song. If I didn't look exactly like that today, minus the bangs, nobody would recognize me.
The arrival of that picture spurred another of those alternate universe thoughts, which I've been having a lot recently. Last weekend Ankur and I went down to Virginia Beach for the wedding of one of my best friends from high school. The whole EMHS gang of 8 made the trip (minus one), as we have for every one of the group's weddings. Even though we've all grown up, dispersed to the far corners of the country, and acquired six friend-in-laws (it would be 8, but Zac and Julie cheated and married within the group), when we get back together it's like nothing has changed. These are my people.
At the wedding, one of my friends registered surprise at the vehemence with which I was expressing my distaste for big city life, and how much I missed Oklahoma. After all, she reminded me, in high school I had always talked about how much I wanted to escape the little town where we grew up and move on to bigger and better things. I had forgotten that. It's been ten years. And ever since I've gotten here, all I'll I've been trying to do is get back home.
But for now, I'll have to settle for looking forward to Kris and Kate's wedding in April--the last of these little reunions until we start reconvening for baby showers--and hoping that sooner rather than later I'll be able to recognize myself in pictures from my grandmother.
PS. Congratulations David and Angela!!!
1 comment:
i always wanted to move away too, but then i got older and realized i love oklahoma. You should move back!
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