An Old, Decrepit High School Musical

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.
We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.
We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

"Another Auld Lang Syne" -Dan Fogelberg



I saw an old friend at Wal-Mart yesterday. Is there anyone we don't see when we go to Wal-Mart? I hate the way I was dressed! I should know by now that the day I choose not to dress to the nines will be the day I see someone who I would actually want to impress. This was, after all, the girl I lost "Most Beautiful" to during our Senior year in high school. She looked great, too. Her hair was shorter and blonder, and she still has the prettiest teeth I've ever seen....a smile exactly like Farrah Fawcett. If you understand that sentence, then you, too, are old! Anyway, I had just tanned (EASY! I have to have at least one vice. I don't drink or smoke. I workout almost every day. I rarely eat meat. I count every calorie that goes in my body. I drink almost a gallon of water a day. I get to do something bad, so get over it!) I was wearing sweats and a zip up jacket with my zebra flip-flops. The pants are too big. The jacket is 10 years old. I was rockin' the faux-hawk that day, too. At least the shoes are nice! I did not look my best......and I smelled like singed hair.

I saw her from a distance. I smiled at her, but she hung a left into the office supplies. I pushed my buggy right on past her and ducked onto the luggage aisle. I could've let it go right there. I could've cut right through the baby clothes into the dairy section and forgotten all about it.....but I didn't. I chose to track her down.

As I approached her, she was looking at the Uniball pens. She glanced up and I said, "Hi." I expected a smile. I expected maybe a fake happy shriek. Maybe even an air kiss? What I got was a complete and total vacant expression. The lights weren't on and nobody was home. She had absolutely no idea who I was. Wow. Now what do I do? Do I keep on going? No, I was full on committed, so I had to tell her who I was....."Bobby Sue, it's me.....Dina.....remember? Dina from high school, Bobby Sue? Remember? Member me? Huh?" She did, thank goodness! What would I have done if she didn't own up to knowing me? So, do you want to know where all this is headed? I saw her last year at Wal-Mart, too. Same month. Same week. Except, last year I was with Chynna and we sat in the Wal-Mart Subway and talked about the years gone by, how her daughter was sick on Spring break, and how Chynna was the new FHS mascot.

OK, so here is an awkward situation that I tend to run into quite often. Bobby Sue: "Why, Dina, I just love what you've done with your hair! I bet it's so easy to take care of." Me: "Bobby Sue, you know I just had breast cancer, right?" BS: "No, I did not know that - bless your heart. Are you ok now?" Me: "Yes, I'm all cancerless now. Yep. Yessiree Bob. Fresh outa cancer now." BS: "Oh, well good......Kay, well it was nice seein' you. I'll see you around." Me: "Bobby Sue, will you do something for me? Will you come to the fundraiser I'm hosting at the high school for my daughter who passed away last year?" BS: "What? Your daughter? Not the one that was with you last time? Not the one that was the mascot?" Me: "Yeah, that's the one. She was the only one I had....and she's gone."

And there we stood, me 'n Bobby Sue from high school who beat me out of the Most Beautiful title, hugging each other and crying for my losses.....my hair, my health, and my baby girl. And, even though I the tears I swallowed were jagged and sharp, I watched her walk away with her beautiful daughter and thought that Chynna must be happy with me right now. After all, I'm not hiding in the dairy section for once.