So the second half of my trip back to the land of ERRRRRR involves family and friends.
What and incredible weekend it was for both. To be able to come home and finally catch up with my sister who now lives in England with very her cool Husband. They happened to be coming in for a stay at the same times so it was yet another good reason to head home. Seeing Meg and spending time with her was wonderful she’s not my baby sister anymore and it was a joy to share conversation with her and her husband and get all caught up on things again. Then having a second sister living right in town behind my parents home made it so I could spend time with her, her husband and two great kids. Got see my niece and nephew who are growing up way to fast. It was wonderful to just sit and chat with my sister Patsy. And just being able to enjoy every moment I could spend with my Mom and then Fathers day with my Dad. It was just more than I could have hoped for to have that much quality time with family.
And then there was this little gathering of some of my old friends at a little joint in town called the rivers bend. This place has been there on the edge of the grand river in various forms it seem like as long as I can remember, and so this was just the right place for all of these people to gather. I will admit to being a little apprehensive as I headed out to this party. Some people I’d seen not long ago and stay in touch with fairly often. But the majority of this gang I hadn’t seen in quite some time like 30 years in some cases! So as I walked in and began to scan the room for familiar faces I started to see what was about to happen, a real great evening of conversation, laughs, tears and lots of smiles as I was excepted back into this great circle of friends. Man at first I felt like I was the only one that had changed. I could recognize just about everyone of course like myself of course people looked different, but it was the personalities that what make it so easy to re-connect with these very important people in my life.
The old stories start pouring out as everyone tried to spend a few moments with each other. It felt a little intense at first like we needed to hurry to catch up with everyone before time ran out. But as the drinks flowed and we all sat down to eat the evening just got more and more enjoyable. I loved to old stories and how sometimes you had a whole different memory of the same thing that a friend was talking about, and then you start to talk about what the hell you’ve been doing, family old teachers and start to see just how much all these people effected you’re life, this place you grew up in really does have a place in your heart. And these Friends are still the best friends a person could grow up with. Then as you decide a group picture is needed before some have to leave we all gathered together for a “team picture” and it’s just as silly as if we were all seniors again. You couldn’t get this group to stop laughing, making faces, making smart comments, (ok Jeff and I were the biggest culprits on those points) as the evening just kept making its move towards the sublime. I wish I could go into more detail, but that wouldn’t be fair to my friends. And I wish I list them all here on the page, but that would mean I’d forget someone and that wouldn’t be fair either. I just want to say to all of them how privileged I feel to be able to call all of them friends, old dear friends who I feel so lucky to have grown up around!
I will say one more thing, just for those who came to this gathering and that are this. I really do hate pickles, but for one crazy night in one crazy little town, I was more than happy to take a bite out of one of our cities historic symbols! The smell of Heifetz in the summer is about only thing I don’t miss about the land of ERRRRRRRRRRR! Thanks for the wonderful time gang and I look forward to enjoying my next chance to see you all again. It was a very positive charge to my heart and we are all even closer than before!