Enlightened

Recently I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen in close to two years. It had been a long time, and yet she was pretty much the same as last time we saw each other. It's always nice meeting people that you went to school with. Seeing what they're doing with their lives now, catching up, and if we're going to be honest here, secretly comparing your life to theirs. I know! I can't believe I'm actually admitting this, but if you really think about it, when you meet someone from your past there's always this tiny teeny weeny absolutely miniscule little part of you that's racking up the points on either side! An innocent coffee turns into a fully fledged mental game of football. Or actually more like Gaelic football, if anyone's familiar with that, because the balls just keep flying! Point after point after point after point. Occasionally a goal, which throws the whole thing off balance! A little scuffle, a bit of (mental) name calling , the referee (read: waiter) has to step in...its an aggressive game and you walk away exhausted, you really do! Women can be cruel. I know that because I am one.

It really is something that you can't help. Especially if you're a woman it seems. Habits are hard to break and if you knew someone from school, no matter how old you get you will always revert back to the age you were when you first met each other. Old fears will come creeping back, old feelings will rush back to you, and more importantly, old rivalry will still exist. It's usually only for a few minutes though, just long enough to give your heart a bit of a work out. Afterwards you put your high school self to the side, and get to know the person for who he or she really is. You realise that maybe there was never anything special about him or her, or perhaps you're left wondering why you never made more time for this person, this witty, interesting individual who most people overlooked. It's an enlightening experience.

And I have to say, I've been enlightened.