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From the time she was thirteen
Julie Thompson had a dream
That someday she would see her name in lights
And after every high school play
The grown-ups all would say
That Julie's future sure is looking bright

Then I saw her selling videos
At a store in Eastland Mall
I said, 'Why aren't you in Hollywood
Taking casting calls?'
She handed me my change and started laughing

And said, 'Life happened
Me and Bobby Chapman fell in love
Daddy passed away and the babies came
And drama school...was just too much
Now there's little league...and mouths to feed
And I direct the kindergarden Christmas pageants
Life happened'

Curtis had an old Chevelle
The cops knew that car well
Never lost a race on Windy Hollow Road
By the time he turned eighteen
He was the Georgia dirt track king
Proudly sponsored by the local Texaco

I bumped into him at Murphy's bar
And he ordered us a round
I said, 'Why aren't you in Rockingham
Chasing Gordon down?'
He killed his drink and tore the corners of his napkin

He said, 'Life happened
I was driving home from Athens late one night
A trucker fell asleep and swapped paint with me
They said I rolled that van at least five times
Now I thank my stars...and I sell used cars
And I teach Driver's Education at St. Catherine's
Yeah, life happened'

I saw the rest of my old friends
At our reunion at the Holiday Inn
It seemed like it was only yesterday
Standing in the gym in our cap and gown
Full of wonderlust and glory bound
We set out to chase our dreams on wings of passion...
But somewhere along the way we got distracted

Life happened
The clothes went out of fashion with our songs
We started families and bought SUV's
Became stepdads and soccer moms
I finally realized we turned out all right
And we spent the night just catching up...and dancing
Life happened