Last weekend Jeremy’s class held its 20th high school reunion. Seven years younger than my husband, I tagged along as a spouse and member of Lincoln Southeast’s class of 1996. We attended most of the planned activities—the informal gathering at a downtown bar, the school tour on Saturday, and the more formal reception at the Nebraska Club later that evening.

Being the spouse at a high school reunion is not the most exciting role ever. After a while, faces tend to blend together and you wonder how many times you can listen to the same introduction-type conversation (what do you do, where do you live, have any kids? etc). But, I have to say Jeremy’s classmates are a cool bunch. I know I only met them briefly over three events, but I was impressed by how kind, entertaining and genuine everyone was. From what I’ve heard, twentieth reunions are far better than ten year ones. Hear that, Sarah & Charity? Plan on 2016 with me!

Kids were invited to the tour of the school and, let me tell you, it was weird to walk down those halls again. By and large, the school looks the same and smells the same. I could feel echos of rallys, assemblys and musical events past when walking in Prasch gym. I recalled running laps around the track upstairs, breathing hard and wondering how I was going to make it through the mile for my gym class. I remember watching the synchronized swimmers in the pool nearby and recalled selling hot dogs and nachos to raise funds for drama club during basketball games.

As we walked Liv up and down hallways, past row upon row of lockers, I wondered at the fact that my husband tread these halls seven years before me. I never once considered that my future mate was working on his locker combo in the same location, just a few years ahead of my time. And though Livia is slated to be a Lincoln High Link someday—a prospect that I’m really excited about—I can’t help but wonder if she’ll end up a Knight and learn in the classrooms we learned in.

If you care at all about Southeast, click on a photo in this post to check out a few other shots on Flickr. The new cafeteria is awesome, large and airy, while the very new auditorium is beautiful, too. There’s a ticket office (!) and, Adam, you’ll be pleased to know the old artwork has been preserved in a new location. I was surprised by how sentimental I felt upon entering the auditorium. I can’t count how many hours I spent on stage in that place, creating and being created at the same time. My name is on the backstage doors there, accompanied by a smiley face to preserve my high school self as long as the doors stand strong.