How Plastic Are Alumni Reunions? Inevitably Disappointed by Past Memories

After graduation, we went to different cities and did different things, either studying or working. The only common point was that everyone was busy.

So, we could only have a little gathering during the Chinese New Year period.

People often say:'The more you hope, the more disappointed you'll be.'

This also applies to alumni reunions. Because we went with the expectation of returning to our student days to chat endlessly, but reality tells us that we have ignored the power of time.

01.

This year marks the 4th year since Xiao Jie's graduation from university, and the 8th year since his high school graduation. Due to work reasons, he hasn't attended alumni gatherings for a long time. Perhaps to escape the pressure of his high-intensity job, Xiao Jie decided to stay home for a few more days to attend the alumni reunion.

In his memory, his high school classmates were still in their tender years, although he couldn't remember specifically who he had talked to, but they had indeed had countless things to say.

With beautiful memories of the past, Xiao Jie attended the annual alumni reunion as scheduled.

Due to his previous lack of experience, the classmates were exceptionally enthusiastic towards him, immediately asking a lot of questions,

'Where are you working now?' 'If there are any profitable opportunities, don't forget to tell your old classmates!'

'How many days of holiday are there during the Chinese New Year?' 'When are you coming home?'

'Are you married?'

…

This barrage of questions left Xiao Jie bewildered, thinking: 'I didn't seem so popular before, what's going on?'

Just then, Xiao Wen, Xiao Jie's high school classmate, waved his hand to invite him to join him, after politely greeting other classmates, Xiao Jie sat down next to Xiao Wen.

Xiao Wen didn't seem surprised to see him attend the alumni reunion, because they had been in contact since elementary school, so Xiao Wen had known about Xiao Jie's attendance long ago. Xiao Wen said to Xiao Jie: 'You're finally here, actually I was planning to make excuses not to come, but you said you were coming, I couldn't refuse.'

Xiao Jie knew that Xiao Wen was right, because they had just made a phone call a few days ago to discuss the reunion.

02.

Before the formal reunion began, Xiao Jie noticed that everyone had tacitly divided into three tables, and each table consisted of people he could chat with.

Just like during their studies, only those he was familiar with were played with. However, Xiao Jie didn't expect that even after so many years of graduation, people were still like this.

So each table was like a small reunion within a large reunion. People on the same table chatted enthusiastically, while people on different tables chatted politely.

At this time, Xiao Jie realized that the farthest distance in the world is not separation and death, but the fact that you sit opposite someone and cannot talk to them. And this is the distance of the heart.

After everyone had settled into their designated tables, the reunion began officially.

Although everyone consciously divided into groups, those with strong social skills still wanted to create a lively atmosphere. So, the reunion organizer, Xiao Jie's class leader during high school, took the lead in holding a glass of wine and greeted everyone with a strong toast before returning to their seats. The organizer's impressive drinking capacity also received unanimous praise from everyone.

However, in Xiao Jie's memory, Class Leader Lin Chang should have been a quiet bookworm, how could he be so shrewd?

Seeing Xiao Jie's confusion, Xiao Wen, who sat next to him, curiously asked: 'Class Leader Lin Chang was studying engineering in university, didn't you know?'

'I do, and I heard he's working on a very large project and passed the First Grade Construction Manager's exam, he's really amazing!'

Xiao Jie exclaimed.

'Yes, he's amazing, I think his current drinking capacity and conversational skills are all cultivated through work.'

Xiao Wen supplemented: 'After all, how can an engineer without good eloquence and drinking ability?'

Xiao Wen's words completely dispelled Xiao Jie's doubts.

As the reunion progressed, the initial enthusiasm gradually faded. Even on the same table, people talked less, so some people lowered their heads to play on their phones, while others indulged in eating and drinking.

To break the terrifying silence, someone suggested playing games, and the loser had to drink, but at the same time, someone raised objections: 'Every reunion is just drinking, which is unhealthy and lacks creativity. In my opinion, let's just play games and not drink.'

'What should we use to punish the loser?' 'Can't we just let the loser drink a soda?'

A voice said so.

'Anyway, just don't drink, I'm driving home, let's just have a 'healthy gathering' today.'

Another person added.

So, the game plan was abandoned.

Everyone simply chatted until the end of the reunion.

After returning home, Xiao Jie felt very tired. This tiredness wasn't physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion.

During the reunion, although there were no unpleasant things happening, it always made people feel like they had more distance between them, like a glass separating them, which was both strong and difficult to touch.

And this is the distance of the heart.

Moreover, Xiao Jie realized: 'Actually, people will change over time. The people you used to be able to chat with may not be able to chat with you now. If you always live in the beautiful memories of the past, you will inevitably be disappointed.'

03.

After the reunion, Xiao Jie and several other classmates he had always kept in touch with separately held a small reunion, relying on their long-standing familiarity, they quickly regained the state of talking endlessly like when they were students.

During this small reunion, Xiao Wen said something that deeply impressed Xiao Jie: 'It's okay if you don't force it, if you can't chat, just don't force it. If you force yourself to find topics to talk about, it will only make yourself and others uncomfortable.'

Since then, Xiao Jie stopped attending all class reunions, only occasionally meeting up with a few familiar people for a chat.

In this story, Xiao Jie's experience is not special, but the most common.

Someone said: 'Friends don't have to have conflicts, many times it's just that you can't talk to each other. Sometimes it's just a matter of not being able to find a common ground.'

Deeply believed.

In fact, in our lives, friends can only accompany us for a period of time, and we will also eventually move in different directions.