Old Friends
sat on their park bench like bookends.
There hasn't been a tip of the hat or a raise of the glass written in the last little while, but not because great things weren't happening! Going on a journey with two old friends through the misty mountains, camping along the Russian River with other old friends, sitting comfy in camping chairs that parents bring to their kids' little league game, drinking turkish coffee, eating coffee cake and wearing bucket hats to shield ourselves from the sun all while taking in the magnificence of the winding river. Then there was a moment of farewell, where two friends said their goodbyes, after a long summer of working, studying and adventuring. This past week especially there was many sincere, intentional moments to be conscientious of, and what happened yesterday just topped it off.
Yesterday I checked my messages and had one from a dear old friend from another country, who I hadn't seen in over a year. Turns out he is in the area with his family, as he was unexpectedly granted a brief vacation from his grueling job abroad, and he was able to meet up with the rest of his family. By the time the day was done, and I had eaten dinner and finally got ready to go, the time seemed late, past 10:30. But some times its better to just go with what you got, so I drove the thirty minutes and almost miraculously saw this person who I didn't even know was in the country until a few hours before. Exchanging pleasantries with his family, going on a little walk around the inn they were staying. Then I asked if he wanted to come back to my house for the night, and he was game. quickly shoving some stuff in a bag, he jumped in the car and we zoomed off, flushed with our own goddamn spontaneity. he couldn't really believe he was in my house no more than i could, wandering around wide-eyed taking the place in. We caught up, doing what old friends do, and then i showed him where he could sleep.
In the morning i made breakfast with bagels and juice and coffee, i hope it was dark enough because where he comes from they don't have time for that cream and sugar business. talked a bit more, and then he was on his way to the train, to meet back up with his family.
I think I spent less than 10 hours with him, and half of those hours we were sleeping. Yet the time we spent together seemed so precious, because old friends.
I don't think it will be terribly strange to be seventy.
There hasn't been a tip of the hat or a raise of the glass written in the last little while, but not because great things weren't happening! Going on a journey with two old friends through the misty mountains, camping along the Russian River with other old friends, sitting comfy in camping chairs that parents bring to their kids' little league game, drinking turkish coffee, eating coffee cake and wearing bucket hats to shield ourselves from the sun all while taking in the magnificence of the winding river. Then there was a moment of farewell, where two friends said their goodbyes, after a long summer of working, studying and adventuring. This past week especially there was many sincere, intentional moments to be conscientious of, and what happened yesterday just topped it off.
Yesterday I checked my messages and had one from a dear old friend from another country, who I hadn't seen in over a year. Turns out he is in the area with his family, as he was unexpectedly granted a brief vacation from his grueling job abroad, and he was able to meet up with the rest of his family. By the time the day was done, and I had eaten dinner and finally got ready to go, the time seemed late, past 10:30. But some times its better to just go with what you got, so I drove the thirty minutes and almost miraculously saw this person who I didn't even know was in the country until a few hours before. Exchanging pleasantries with his family, going on a little walk around the inn they were staying. Then I asked if he wanted to come back to my house for the night, and he was game. quickly shoving some stuff in a bag, he jumped in the car and we zoomed off, flushed with our own goddamn spontaneity. he couldn't really believe he was in my house no more than i could, wandering around wide-eyed taking the place in. We caught up, doing what old friends do, and then i showed him where he could sleep.
In the morning i made breakfast with bagels and juice and coffee, i hope it was dark enough because where he comes from they don't have time for that cream and sugar business. talked a bit more, and then he was on his way to the train, to meet back up with his family.
I think I spent less than 10 hours with him, and half of those hours we were sleeping. Yet the time we spent together seemed so precious, because old friends.
I don't think it will be terribly strange to be seventy.
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