Scuzie!

“I got new boots!” was the first thing I said when I saw ALS at the “mini-reunion” organized by one of my high school classmates. “These are my I-don’t-need-a-job-after-business-school boots,” I declared, mimicking Rachel of Friends.
“Oh, congratulations!” ALS said, playing along as she gave me a hug. “Why don’t you need a job?”
“My first-term marks are out. I don’t think it’s enough to get that job with the big comfy bonus on Wall St.,” I said, more sadly than I felt.
“Aw, it’s ok honey. At least you got the boots.” I do! I thought to myself with glee, admiring my purchase. Sure, I broke my only-buy-sale-items rule to buy these, but they were worth it.

The mini-reunion was organized by a certain classmate of mine who went to UPenn after high school. He only comes back twice a year, so he regards the winter holidays as an opportunity to host a dinner reunion for whoever is back in town. This year’s guestlist was remarkably different from the previous year, which had been limited to misfits mostly. Classmates I had not seen since graduation attended this year’s dinner, which was held at an intimate downtown bar stocked with the most impressive array of beers and wines. PMG and I split a bottle of Gewurtzraminer Reserve between us (delish), and I was sufficiently tipsy by the time everyone had arrived. In attendance were some of my closest friends, including HB, who lavished attention upon me as always. MFL was there as well, although he spent more time interacting with his cell phone than a real-live person. I don’t think he was very happy seeing me with HB, but he may have been comforted in knowing that I would leave with him at the end of the night (he was my ride home).

The reunion made me think about my high school friends though. Many of us had gone through or were going through the same difficult task of deciding what we wanted to do. Made more difficult because we are a group of highly capable people with endless opportunities. Many of us were settling on med school, law school, or grad school “just because.” It suddenly made my decision to pursue a law degree after business school seem less arbitrary.

Worse comes to worse, I will just buy a pair of I-don’t-need-a-reason-to-go-to-law-school boots and march on.