Wow, Mick and Keith over 60 in IMAX detail. It could have been scary, but it’s shocking how great this band still is. My favorite moments were when Buddy Guy stole the show, but I was very surprised how much I liked the Christina Aguilera number and how I didn’t think Jack White added what I would have expected, given how much I like White Stripes. I was glad that nobody got motion sick at this IMAX experience and that it was in Richmond this time!
In mid April I returned home for the first time in four years without the reason being a funeral or a hurricane’s wake. I was grateful to be going to spend time with my family and a no longer long-lost friend of my heart. I went with a heavy heart, probably due to too many trips for achingly sad purposes. But I was also relaxed, with no real expectations and just looking forward to connecting again with my loved ones.
I spent a few days in New Orleans with Colleen and Mel, and I had shrimp, oysters, etc. at every meal! They are in the midst of renovating their house, which is on a street my family lived on before I was school-aged. They have chosen cool bold colors and it’s going to look fantastic once done. On the second day, Colleen and I surprised my Auntie Vera at her job and she took us to lunch and we all caught up. It was atypically comfortable, not too steamy, and fun to surprise her!
Friday night I borrowed Mel’s screaming yellow convertible MR2 and drove up to Baton Rouge via my old route but this time top down!!!!! They had just opened the Bonnet Carre spillway for the first time in many years and there were all kinds of the typical crazies out, essentially tailgating at the spillway. I was headed to my old college town to see Pam and her family for a few short hours. I was so excited to meet the beautiful and precocious Maya, to see Megan again, and especially to see Jason, now all grown up and a successful businessman. Friday night was ladies’ night out, and Pam introduced me to the revitalized downtown, with new funky restaurants and of course bars everywhere with superb music blaring into the street. After dinner at a newish downtown seafood place right on the river, we walked around and I was amazed at the transformation, including new plazas and a new LSU art museum! We hung at M for the longest time listening to a band called (I think) Theodore Funkstable, but maybe I imagined that! Other than one altercation with someone who apparently stalked us, it was a great evening. The next day, Pam and Maya and I wandered all over LSU on Saturday, ate at George’s for lunch, and then to a street festival on the river with folks dancing Zydeco–the highlight was Feufollet, playing traditional Lafayette Cajun music. We all danced!
I had to head out to catch my super early flight out of New Orleans. Colleen brought me to the airport and I was sad to leave and sad that my trip was such a whirlwind. Next time, I’m spending more time and catching up with more friends and going to more of my old hangouts!
I forgot my ear plugs, or forgot to use them. It was a bad mistake on April 16th. Chris and I went to Toad’s Place on the canal walk to see Okkerville River and New Pornographers.
I wasn’t the only one injured–Neko Case was on a stool the whole time, and later, we saw her helped off on crutches. Apparently after that night she had to abandon the tour. That was a shame, because even with her on a stool, the band got better and noisier as the night went on. I didn’t know Okkerville River before tonight but I was very impressed but forgot to buy their CD before leaving. It was hot and sweaty as usual on the concrete floor!
The next day, we had our quarterly Virginia MINT meeting at one of my old Richmond haunts, in the ATTC offices, in mid-April. Denise gave us a taste of MIA Step, enough for me to know it’s not going to help in the hunt for explanations of why MI works, but also enough to see some value in using pieces of it with supervisors. For lunch we all walked to the big back patio of Sine, and enjoyed company and conversation of good old friends who’ve worked together for a long time in varied ways.
This weekend I got to see an old girlfriend for the first time in probably 6 years. We were very close for a short period but then time and distance and family got in the way and resulted in a lapse in our friendship—the fading away to once yearly Christmas cards.
It’s amazing and wonderful to get together with someone who knew you very well —before—and find that you still have the same instant intimacy and love for each other. The conversation is so easy, and so supportive of each others’ challenges.
So in talking with my girlfriend about family and work life and various challenges we’ve had, I pulled out some photos to show her of the boys as they are now. Her first reaction was Wow, they are so DIFFERENT from each other! And they have been from birth! Tristan, my passionate, sometimes angry, sometimes expressively loving younger son, is also practical–he wants his hair short so it will dry quickly after his bath and he won’t have to waste playtime on things like brushing hair. Jamie, my aloof, self-contained, confident leader of a first child, is less practical–sporting his messy rockstar hairdo and more fussy about his clothes—”Mom I can’t wear THAT” meaning never again even if the item is brand new…..they are so different, and growing like crazy. Mary was down here to start college shopping for her eldest—and I got to hear stories of what it’s like with 2 girls, and to tell some of mine about having 2 boisterous ones at home.
It was also lovely to talk about work, and parenting, and love, and our aging parents, and share our different perspectives. True friends model and share and help us grow in unexpected ways, sometimes by a simple statement that conveys their deep understanding of you, and also challenges you in a surprising way. I feel lucky to have shared some wine and an evening with a friend I won’t let slip away again…..
Here are those photos–see what you think.
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