Never Been Kissed... rehashed

Thinking of what transpired during the past few days and the upcoming high school graduation of my youngest sister Harriet, I have been reminded of that movie "Never Been Kissed" that starred perky and crazy Drew Barrymore who played Josie Geller, a meek and mild sub-editor promoted to reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times who’s never had a serious relationship. Her first assignment is to go undercover as a pupil at a local high school, because the editor thinks Josie will get a story on what today’s teenagers are really like. What he doesn’t know is that, for Josie, high school was an excruciating nightmare that she still hasn’t recovered from. The director of that flick made a remarkable statement regarding the movie that made me agree in a way.

"I think everyone has had some kind of school experience that they wish they could do over or wish they could do better. There’s something about those years that sears them onto your psyche, so the chance to go back and do them again is something I think everyone has fantasised about. High school’s such an interesting place because you’re trying to figure out what kind of person you want to be and it’s definitely the swan theory. I think even popular kids felt awkward inside, and there were nights where you sat home and you watched every car drive by hoping that one would pull into your driveway - and it never did. Or you’re talking to someone you’re in love with and you go to the bathroom and you see that you’ve got a giant booger hanging from your nose - there’s great humour to be had in that. I thought it was interesting to break it down and get into the pain and humour of the fact that your exterior doesn’t count as much as we’re made to think it does."

Looking back, I really was a nobody in high school. At some point, many of those memories from high school were those I would gladly tuck away in the deepest portion of my temporal lobe. I was considered uncool, uncouth, ugly, undesirable, and all things un... most probably the reason why I didn't get to enjoy my high school life to it's fullest. Not that I'm being too negative about it, I mean, some of the best people I know now were the people I met during those hormone storm days.

Fast forward to 2008... almost ten years later, high school is again haunting me back.

Aside from the usual tuksuan, slumbook trip, and cliques, there were statements and acronyms that had it's heydey during those four years inside a pseudopsychiatric facility that, if used at the age I am in now, will make you look soooo..... high school. Behold! Behold! It is making it's way back into my word list right now. Sample?

ITALY (I trust and love you)

JAPAN (just always pray at night)

MTM (many to mention)

ABC (always be careful)

XYZ (xee you zoon!)

HOLLAND (hope our love lasts and never die)

all of these were derived from a fellow instructor/architect/rockstar/Lou Veloso wannabe friend's immense vocabulary of high school words that includes new entries such as MTB (meant to be), Mary, and Kathy (ask him to define those, it's way too mean kasi). It may make you cringe, but it'll make you smile and sigh afterwards.

With the high school glossary making it's return, it is also accompanied by the feelings you first felt way back secondary school. That includes the queasy feeling at a blah day at work, toxic feeling during deadlines, the natural high of laugh tripping from making fun of yourselves and other people, guilty feeling when playing hooky like a teenager, and other things bright and shiny. :D Aaaaaahhhh.... that old high school feeling! Seems all so new to me now.

I don't miss high school, but with all the new but old style moments and scenes that are going through my life right now, I kinda wonder how it would be like if I go back in time and be a high school student again. Maybe it would've been better at my state now since:

a. I look way better than what I did before. (there's this certain age where your pimples just get tired of pestering your face so they travel on to plague new faces... like your sister's!)

b. I am wiser (thanks to the bitches, bastards, and baggages of the past!)

c. I am cooler (thanks to cringe worthy moments of humiliation that made me change everything - from wardrobe to outlook)

d. I am more self indulging now and less guilt laden (but this one comes with the age, the diploma, the salary, and the fact that your parents would now ask you to get a life because they've realized that you've spent most of yours in front of a pc or a book)

e. I now think before I act (Which is as of the moment debatable. There are moments in your life where you think that it would be better to give in and go with the flow. Odds be damned. Do what your heart desires if it will make you happy. Then again... reality and logic molded by past hurts and mistakes set in).

Still, I will never go back. I am already over and done with the mental torture. Going back would be like a relapse or some nosocomial infection. Good thing the feelings and experiences can be felt again sans the actual situation. Let the fantasy be a fantasy. Just incorporate the kicks you get from that fantasy into what you have now.

Everything is so high school nowadays... and this time for sure, I am enjoying it.

Now, better start the plan on crashing in on one of them upcoming proms with a friend who, like me, has never experienced going to one! Hahahaha!