Well the link works but I can't remember how to share the picture so it just shows up here.
Anyway, the link is to a picture my sister sent me last night of me on college graduation day, standing in front of our house before we headed off to the ceremony.
She sent it to me, I guess, because last night I had dinner with my college boyfriend, who I hadn't seen previously in 28 years.
It was wonderful to see him, and the four hours we were together just flew by. An hour of conversation at my house first, then a little bit of a scenic drive up South Mountain to the Lookout, a spot where you can see the whole Lehigh Valley spread out before you with the Poconos in the distance, and then to dinner at a Greek Taverna nearby, where my old boyfriend showed off his knowledge of wine in picking out a bottle for us to share, and I introduced him to the fun of saganaki, the classic Greek flaming cheese appetizer, always introduced with a "Ooopa!"
Then I drove him through downtown, pleasantly lit with old gas lamps year round, to show off my city a bit.
It was fun to reminisce about fun during our college days--going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show at a midnight showing at a movie theatre on Sunset Strip, his teaching me to use chopsticks at a Chinese restaurant, our student government days--and to talk about our families and the one mentor from college we have both kept in touch with, still teaching there part-time at age 76--and to share stories of some of the life experiences that have shaped us since the time we last met back in 1988, when he was working in D.C. for a year and I had a job interview in the city in the morning and a free afternoon. Back then he had been married for just a few years and was childless; now he has three grown daughters.
It was also enjoyable to learn about how we have both grown and changed--in simpatico if not similar ways. This isn't always true. Later this week I will be returning a phone call received from my very first childhood crush (at age 10), someone whom I never dated but whom I have been close friends with, whom I still adore, but whose life has diverged from mine in directions that it is easier for us just not to talk about (politics, for example).
I am usually one to look forward rather than back, but I am feeling a little heartsore this morning--glad to have had the chance to reconnect, sorry it was so short and that there will not likely be many chances to meet up again as we live on opposite coasts. (Not there is any romantic possibility here; just the rekindling of an old friendship and the disinternment of some old long-buried memories.
Memories Stirred
June 7th, 2016 at 07:18 pm
June 7th, 2016 at 07:20 pm 1465327221
June 8th, 2016 at 01:45 am 1465350330
June 8th, 2016 at 04:55 am 1465361735
June 8th, 2016 at 11:31 am 1465385486
July 27th, 2016 at 12:58 am 1469581121
That being said, I definitely know the wierdness of spending time with a romantic interest from the past who now is solidly married these many years while I'm still single. It does conjure up regrets over paths not taken. Sigh.