Almost 3 am thoughts... Indeed

A dear friend asked me who I was most happy seeing the first night of the reunion. Well that first night was a hum dinger. I was processing sooooo much information/stimulation. For a quiet recluse, a loud bar is a overwhelming place to be. I was uncomfortably dressed in hot clothes I had not planned on wearing as my mother insisted I wear my great great great grandmothers brooch. I spent half the night peeing from my heavy consumption of tonic water. By 9 o'clock, the people I knew were rather few and far between and mostly engaged in their own conversations or passing out on my shoulder. It was a lot to process. So much so that I ended up face down from 11 pm to noon the next day and then not able to get on my feet until 4. Holy Shit.

The second night was easier. Most of the visiting was done outside were it was quieter. I drank less water. I knew more people and I was in comfortable clothes. What a difference all that made!

So, after surviving the second night, I can now offer my friend an answer. Both nights of the event I noticed that there was a guy that was floating around the edge, keeping a keen eye on things and working. It seemed like he knew people but I didn't recognize him. Anyway, not to far into that second evening, my path and his collided and I asked if he was a classmate and, with his nod, I began to introduce myself. After saying my first name he blurted out my Maiden name and then introduced himself as Wilson. I recognized him by name, evoked a lot of deep and dear impressions, but with a face hidden by that much hair, I can't for the life of me recall his younger face.

Anyway, all I can really remember of him is that earlier on we had been friends. I don't know where or when exactly, Jr high? And then our paths diverged. I would later hear of some of his antics here and there from Vince and if I told those stories at home, my mom would freak out and tell me to stay away from him. Which is why I think our deepest interactions took place in middle school. My mom was the office assistant for the school psychiatrists. She knew the troubled youth and he was one of them. She needn't have worried... much. He was out of my orbit but he held a very soft spot in my heart.

Getting back to the events of the evening, later, our paths crossed again for a brief moment, This time he thanked me. Apparently I had offered him some wise council when he needed it most and he credited me for his still being here. I was not expecting that and I was deeply touched by his gratitude. And then we parted ways. The evening progressed with smiles being exchanged over the crowd and an unexpected gift of goosing. What reunion isn't complete without a little ass grab? When Greg and I wrapped up the evening, I did not get a chance to say goodbye. And that didn't seem right. With our room being just a quick stroll away, I returned to the bar and sat outside, on the edge of activity, where I knew I would eventually catch him doing his duties. We sat and hugged and then he saw me off with tender affection. Again, we are out of orbit but that soft spot for him is much bigger now. I wont forget you this time, Wilson.