In with the Old

So I went to my grade school "event" and despite my misgivings and general distaste for the school itself, I had a remarkably good time.  I saw one of my English teachers who I always felt didn't care for me much- I told him that I didn't know he had named his daughter, Susanna, after me. (I don't think he did but it was a good icebreaker)-but when we spoke he told me how great it was to see me and his eyes were all glossy and he certainly seemed genuine.  The headmistress came up to me and thanked me profusely for being at an event in the mid nineties.  I thought it odd considering there was another teacher there and we were asked to say nice things about him. I had nothing nice to say because he truly is an asshole so instead I politely ripped him a new asshole.  And she thanked me for it.  She said she learnt SO much that night. I got emails for months after that from other former students thanking me for being honest.
Anyway... The thing that really gets me is how people who knew you when you were in fourth grade and through high school seem so much more unconditionally there.  There is a weird trust. An unsaid almost love that makes you feel immediately comfortable with them. After the event, I went to a deli that I hadn't been to in about 15 years with a guy I knew who is two years my senior (Cool guy I ran into at Starbucks), a girl who was one of my best friends when I was about 14 and a guy from my sisters class who "went" with her in like 6th grade.  And it was SO easy to be with them. We happily chatted over our Reubens and pancakes. We talked about politics, about our kids, life in general- it was really interesting and I felt like someone I wanted to be friends with. 
During this midlife crisis I have been searching for myself.  And I am finding myself in the most unlikely of places. There is a lesson there that I will try to take to heart. I am taking more chances- not like jumping into the street to see if a car will hit me but throwing myself into situations where I am not sure I will be comfortable.  I have been so pleasantly surprised so far.  Makes me want to do more things!