Old Faces From The Past. . .

Posted on March 27, 2008 by thestateofblog

In the past few weeks, I (J) have bumped into several people that I went to high school and elementary school with. Nearly all of them are HUGE, and most of them look like life has been very hard. I guess that high fructose corn syrup and stress is getting to people worse than I thought. Its crazy - with most of them, I would look into their face and barely recognize that old face from the playground. I can’t be the only person having these experiences.

Filed under: Life, Schools

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55 Responses to “Old Faces From The Past. . .”

  1. rich, on March 27th, 2008 at 7:34 am Said:

    You are not the only person. It happened to me allot right after law school and before my parents moved out of Memphis. It makes you think about the choices we make in life and in some instances, how lucky we were.

  2. Cookie, on March 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am Said:

    Hmmm. I’m pleased to say the last time i went home, friends from high school (male and female) look anywhere from good to great. It hasn’t been 10 years yet though [8], so we’ll see.

  3. Maceo, on March 27th, 2008 at 8:34 am Said:

    15 years out of high school dude. Face it Big J. You are old.

  4. Roderick, on March 27th, 2008 at 8:37 am Said:

    Damn Cookie, you’re a young ‘un. My 20th high school reunion (damn I am old) will be coming up in a few years and I don’t plan to go because everytime I visit my mom l see some of the same riff raff l went to school with. LOL

  5. King James, on March 27th, 2008 at 8:44 am Said:

    Good morning fam! Hope all are well.

    I’ve seen many who have gained weight and have a similar look. There are plenty who, like Cookie’s folks, look great and are doing good stuff.

    I know I look different, it’s up to someone else to judge if it’s better or not.

    But yeah Rod, I feel you. I just said today that FACEBOOK and MYSPACE has me not missing anyone anyway.

  6. Maceo, on March 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am Said:

    Interesting thought King James. I wonder if catching up with so many old friends on the social networking sites will hurt attendance at various class reunions.

    I figure that attendance will stay about the same. It seems that it is easier to organize folks for reunions since it isn’t so hard to actually find them.

  7. JP, on March 27th, 2008 at 10:57 am Said:

    Yeah man,

    At my high school reunion10 year reunion was something to behold. There was a rail thin girl that sat next to me in division (homeroom) for 4 years. She was wobbling and gobbling. She had at least tripled her weight! I was flabbergasted. (sorry about that last one)

    We’re not talking “a burger away” here. It would take a great effort to go from under 100 pounds to over 300. I just couldn’t imagine.

  8. Sasha, on March 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am Said:

    I went to my 10 year in 2006. It was great. I”m still friends with a lot of people from high school. But those that I hadn’t seen, it was a mixed bag. Some had changed for the better, some had gone downhill. One guy who was a tiny, scrawny little thing walked in and no one recognized him. He was a tree trunk. (in a good way).

  9. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm Said:

    What sticks out for me is that everyone has kids.

  10. Cookie, on March 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm Said:

    RJ,

    i don’t get it. you mean like the major change?

    If so, that’s a good point because i have a “man, can you believe we’re parents?” moment at least once per month with an old friend (men/women, married/single)

  11. Big J, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm Said:

    Most of my friends from college have wives and kids. Most of my friends from high school have kids but no wife.

  12. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:03 pm Said:

    Cookie, I’m saying that unlike others, I’m not surprised by what folks weigh. I’m more taken by the number of old friends that have kids.
    I dont yet feel ready to be somebody’s mama, so I guess I pay attention when I encounter others who have elected to make that leap.

  13. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:04 pm Said:

    And your right J, I cant think of one that is married

  14. Big Wayne, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:05 pm Said:

    “What sticks out for me is that everyone has kids…” RJ

    Man, don’t they!? But I guess at around 30 or so, if you want kids, and want to be able to be active with them, you better start soon!

    So, you gonna have some kids, RJ?

  15. paul, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:15 pm Said:

    yea…Esq….gon’ have some kids…she’s just waiting for that lucky man to make his self known.

  16. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:17 pm Said:

    I want kids Wayne…….just not right now. Their daddy has to find me first!

  17. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm Said:

    Great minds think alike P.

  18. Big Wayne, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:26 pm Said:

    RJ,

    I feel you RJ. Timing is important. But remember these words of wisdom:

    ” If you’re only looking at Black Bentleys, you may miss the Silver Maybach that is just calling your name. ” -Big Wayne

  19. paul, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm Said:

    what’s that mean big wayne? are you saying she should step out to the other side?

  20. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:29 pm Said:

    My 20yr was in 2004…..and I have to say that the majority looked very different. I weighed 93#’s when I graduated. I weigh much more now…different in a good way.

    I hate to go home(Metro St. Louis) because there are sooooooo many old friends or aquaintances who are doing poorly…on crack..a bajillion kids and no husband…working for peanuts and hating life…

    Are we not blessed? Ya’ll better count ‘em every day.
    much peace….

  21. King James, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm Said:

    Nurse.. how many … exactly… are a ‘bajillion’?

    :-)

  22. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pm Said:

    Yeah P. Wayne is advocating my giving white dudes a chance.

  23. paul, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:00 pm Said:

    oh helll nawww…..my girl Esquire don’t swing like that shawty….she needs a real man to hold her down.

  24. Sasha, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:03 pm Said:

    A LOT of my friends from high school are married. But it’s interesting because no one from my “crew” is. And a few of my friends are already divorced.

    The weight thing was not that big of a deal. One girl who was incredibly skinny in school is now…..Not so much. What was more striking than weight was that a few look much older than 30. LIke they’ve had a really rough time since graduation.

  25. Sasha, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:10 pm Said:

    This is O/T, but there is a very funny article on msn.com by Jason Whitlock on the whole Lebron/Vogue cover issue.

  26. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm Said:

    King James..you know how many a bajillion is!

  27. Roderick, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:35 pm Said:

    is a bajillion more than you can afford? LOL

  28. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:47 pm Said:

    Dont worry P. I aint wit that!

  29. Cookie, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm Said:

    Thanks Sasha! That article was great!

    Paul,

    the only ‘real’ men on earth are black?

    RJ,

    Something about your fear of not being ready tells me that when the time comes, you’ll take it seriously and do an awesome job. Their daddy will find you soon enough, and pop that question FIRST.

  30. Cookie, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm Said:

    my bad. i meant Black with a capital B.

  31. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm Said:

    Thanks Cookie.

  32. Big Wayne, on March 27th, 2008 at 2:50 pm Said:

    I weigh much more now…different in a good way” - the good nurse.

    That is the understatement of the day! Has anyone ever seen the good nurse? She is a stunner! Caught a pic of her one day on another site. Wo! ;)

    Paul and RJ,

    I’m not necessarily advocating that RJ go date a white guy. I am only suggesting that she open herself up to beauty and compatability in all shades.

  33. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 3:01 pm Said:

    I wanna see the good nurse.

  34. CJ, on March 27th, 2008 at 3:16 pm Said:

    “I wanna see the good nurse.”

    Me too!! BW, exactly where did you see her pic? :-)

  35. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pm Said:

    Wait a minute!!!!!
    Big Wayne, where did u see me dude? No fair!
    I want to see ya’ll too. When are u guys coming to ATL? For real!

  36. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 4:17 pm Said:

    now I am all paranoid and ish….

  37. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pm Said:

    Wait….
    Wayne, do you think the caricature pics Denmark Vesey uses on his site are the real person?
    Is that what your thinking about?

  38. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm Said:

    RJEsq,
    I hope that is not what he thinks I look like….that chick is about 2 shades too light, and missing about 100 notty dreads to look like me! LOL…

  39. IMS, on March 27th, 2008 at 4:39 pm Said:

    Lol, you know, it took me a minute to realize none of those pics were real…funny!

    I had a best friend in elementary and jr. high and she has 3 lil girls now! We’ve only been out of high school 8 yrs. Everybody has kids.

    Alot of people put on weight too, I see that as natural but I’ve seen also seen some huge differences.

  40. Cookie, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:03 pm Said:

    Good Nurse,

    You’re in ATL? I’m up there all the time. I’ll be up in about 2 weeks. We should plan something!

  41. Big Wayne, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:04 pm Said:

    C’mon RJ and Nurse,

    Y’all coulda let a brotha dream!

    It was, indeed, DV’s blog where I saw that photo.

    But I’m sure the good nurse is still hot…just maybe not as hot as my girl RJ ESQ!!

  42. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:05 pm Said:

    Cookie! Mos Def. Not sure how u can get in touch w/ me.
    Big J or Rich….can u forward my personal email to Cookie?

  43. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:06 pm Said:

    Ok Big Wayne….and to let u in on a little secret…I am hotter!LOL!

  44. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pm Said:

    u go girl.
    I’m not a hater.

    (and I went to public school so I know how to handle competition and defeat). LOL! [that was for you Dina and J.]

  45. Big J, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pm Said:

    To get in touch, you can both email me at iwonderasiwander@gmail.com

    RJ,

    You’re ready to be a Mommy. I can tell. A good guy is in your future. You’ve been reading your TSO, and now you’re ready to treat him right.

    Just think how much TSO has done for y’alls heterosexuality!!! For Reall!!!

  46. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm Said:

    IMS, you didnt notice that my “photo” is a picture of Corine Bailey Rae?

  47. IMS, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pm Said:

    Yep, that always cracks me up…do you even resemble her? I thought it was just b/c he didn’t have a pic of you.

    I finally got it when Cnulan became dude from The Baltimore Sun…

  48. the good nurse, on March 27th, 2008 at 5:32 pm Said:

    REJesq….u know u fine. U and I are kindred spirts for sure….

  49. RJEsq, on March 27th, 2008 at 6:06 pm Said:

    Definitely Nurse!
    IMS, I’m probably the same complexion as Corrine Bailey Rae, but no, I dont look like her.

  50. pink, on March 28th, 2008 at 11:17 am Said:

    I adore Corrine Bailey Rae. They just found her husband dead. He overdosed.

  51. OCCaliAKA, on March 28th, 2008 at 3:37 pm Said:

    Oddly, I have almost no desire to see anybody from my high school days. I was picked on a few too many times to have a lot of nostalgia.

    I graduated nearly 26 years ago and was bused, so I was one of those kids who felt like I didn’t fit in (very few AfAms in the advanced placement classes).

    In terms of physicality, although I have gained weight, I look much better than I did in HS. I reinvented myself sartorially. I have worn contacts since 1984, dress well and also enhance my hair, LOL.

  52. paul, on March 28th, 2008 at 7:07 pm Said:

    OCCaliAKA said, “enhance my hair”

    What’s that mean? You have a jerry curl?

  53. OCCaliAKA, on March 29th, 2008 at 12:06 am Said:

    ^^
    Nope, I don’t have a jerry curl. I wear what used to be called a “fall” back in my mother’s heyday, but is now called an “instant weave.” It’s a 3/4 wig.

    I’m not ready to spend three figures on a sewn-in weave just yet. When I turned 40, I saw my mother’s thinning hair and felt I needed to do something.

  54. paul, on March 29th, 2008 at 9:23 am Said:

    Three figure on a weave? How often do people that spend three figures on a weave have to get it it done? Well I feel you….my hairline is starting to act funny at the front edges…I promised myself when it started to trip in the SLIGHTEST I would let it go. Oh well…I had a nice run at growing hair but now it’s over….dang i miss getting those fresh edge ups every Friday.

  55. OCCaliAKA, on March 31st, 2008 at 10:59 am Said:

    How long a weave lasts depends on who does it and the quality of hair. I’d probably want good human hair that’s not from the beauty supply store.

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