Waxing Nostalgic for Old High School Relationships Is Like Eating Cotton Candy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections on Sweetness, Illusion, and the Lingering Ghosts of Youth

Nostalgia is a funny thing—a soft little ache that pops up whenever we look back. Thinking about old high school relationships is kind of like munching on cotton candy: it's sweet, it feels good for a moment, but it doesn't really fill you up. Those memories are definitely tempting, pulling you back to a time when everything felt new and exciting. But after the sugar rush fades, all that’s left is a hint of sweetness and that empty feeling that sticks around for a while.

The Allure of Nostalgia

Nostalgia is kind of like a warm blanket. It’s like catching a whiff of popcorn at a fair or hearing old jokes echo down the school hallway—it just pulls you back to an easier, more wide-open time. Thinking about high school relationships especially has its own vibe: a mix of awkward, sweet, and totally thrilling “firsts.”

There’s something special about remembering that first rush of butterflies from a smile, the notes you secretly passed in class, the nerves before a big dance, or those late-night phone calls you had to whisper so you wouldn’t get caught. Every one of those memories feels like it’s made of light and air—just as fun and flimsy as cotton candy spinning around at a summer carnival.

But just like cotton candy, the harder you try to hold onto those moments, the faster they disappear. The past is kind of see-through that way—you can taste it for a second, but it never really fills you up. You’re left craving something a little more real, something that sticks.

 The Illusion of Substance

Cotton candy is weird—looks huge and fluffy, but the second you take a bite, it just melts away and leaves you with a hint of sugar and not much else. It’s fun for a second, but you’re never really full. That’s exactly what these memories of old high school relationships are like.

It’s all about the sweetness: that secret handshake, holding hands under the cafeteria table, or being someone’s “person” in the chaos of high school. All those laughs, late-night texts, and goofy inside jokes get spun together into this web that can pull you right back to being young and clueless.

Here’s the thing about nostalgia—it totally messes with your head, making old high school flings seem way more important than they probably were. It’s like cotton candy: looks huge, feels special, but you bite in and realize it’s just a puff of sugar and a lot of nothing. Those old crushes and memories? Sometimes we convince ourselves they were life-changing, but really, it’s just our brains polishing up the past.

If you think about it, most of the embarrassing moments, the fights, and the general awkwardness just get blurred out over time. What’s left is the sweet stuff, so it’s easy to trick yourself into thinking it was all perfect. But much like cotton candy, when you try to actually hold onto those memories, there’s not much there—just a sugary aftertaste and a lot of empty air.

So maybe the next time nostalgia tries to lure you in with memories of awkward prom poses and tragic haircuts, remember: it’s a little like craving cotton candy for dinner. Fun at first, but sooner or later, you’re just left with a sticky face and questionable life choices. Maybe that’s a sign it’s time to reach for something heartier—like pizza. Pizza never lets you down. 😉

 Peter (Pete) Mclees