A short letter I shared with my high school class after our 20-year reunion.
One thing I’ve discovered over the past few years is how difficult it is to make friends as an adult. It’s not for lack of trying, but it is exhausting. The more time that passes by, the more there is to explain: “why and how I am the way that I am.”
The past shapes who we are, good and bad, and those we share a deep past with will always have a better foundation to understand who we are now than anyone new ever could. Instead of fumbling around or being distracted by little quirks, we get to give an update on life—not a complete backstory or explanation. It is a breath of fresh air to feel accepted with little or no effort. That kind of trust is harder to find than love.
I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think about at least one person from my past I grew up with, and that’s mostly y’all. Then the more that I consider my history, the more grateful I am for the environment I got to be raised up in.
To share so many novel memories with a relatively small group of people is a beautiful, rare gift.
I just wanna say a big thank you to everyone who came out For the reunion, and an extra shout-out to all those who had to travel.
I know I didn’t get a chance to say hi to all of you and hear about what’s making you happy these days, but from the bottom of my heart, I love each and every one of you and want nothing but blessings for you. Let’s not wait another 20 years to reconnect. And if any of you ever needs anything, I'm happy to help. (Perks of being a full-time uncle😆)
Stay curious and optimistic.
Uncle Andrew