Guest Laurie Schnebly Campbell: Outgrowing High School

Next weekend I'm off to my high school reunion, and wondering why -- after all these years -- I still care so much about what my classmates think of me.

Sure, you expect teenagers to be consumed with the desire for popularity. But shouldn't we outgrow it eventually? Or does that shrinking feeling of "I'll never be cool" come back with the same intensity as during high school whenever those same people get together?

In theory, this should be a pure delight. And I suspect if I weren't spending so much energy worrying about whether I'll be accepted -- or, more to the point, admired -- it WOULD be a pure delight.

Yet I've spent the past four months dithering over what to wear, planning the best day for a haircut, imagining ways to work my book titles into the conversation while sounding ever so casual...which, good heavens, just made me realize this is all about Me-Me-Me!

Ulp.

Years ago my dad said his method for enjoying any social event was to walk into the room saying "THERE you are" instead of "HERE I am." And it's a safe bet there'll be a whole lot of fascinating people at this event -- in fact, it'll be the anniversary of when my best friend from high school met her soon-to-be husband (another classmate) at our ten-year reunion. They happened to sit near each other at dinner, and...whoosh.

But they won't be there since their daughter's school is still in session. And a few other friends I've stayed in touch with can't make it either. And I didn't invite my husband because it would've been ludicrously expensive to bring a date.

So there won't be any Guaranteed Friendly People to chat with. Surely there'll be other people arriving without a date, though, right?

Surely there'll be something to do besides hide out in the bathroom, right?

Surely this'll all be a pleasant memory by the time our NEXT reunion comes around...won't it?

But if you have any tips for making a reunion more fun and less scary, I'd really love to hear 'em!

 Laurie, who can't wait to check back

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After publishing half a dozen romances, including a Special Edition that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best of the Year," Laurie Schnebly Campbell saw a bumper sticker that changed her life: "Those who can, do. Those who believe others can ALSO do, teach." Now she teaches other writers about query letters, fatal flaws, plotting via motivation and more -- see her picks at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurieClass .