Yay, Yay, it’s Saturday…
Right?
Monday Musings about My Class Reunion…
Saturday night was my (mumbling year) high school class reunion. It was held at a lovely venue in the western suburbs of Chicago, with an open bar and appetizers. There was also a wedding reception at the same location. One of the bridesmaids asked me in the ladies room if I was there for the reunion. I said yes and she said, oh, is it your 20th? Ah, sweet, adorable, obviously alcohol-impaired young lady!
I dragged hubby along with me and he knows no one I went to school with because I met him after college, but he was a great sport. We had such fun talking to my friend Gloria and her hubby, David, who made the trip in from Florida. I swear Gloria looks just like she did in high school. Bitch. No, no, just kidding. She is just as lovely as ever and I’m sure it’s not her fault that she hasn’t aged a bit! Also talked with Terry and his wife, Jan, who came in from Iowa. I’ve known him since we were in sixth grade — about age 12 in the U.S. — and had seen them ten years ago at the last reunion I attended.
Then there was Al, another Terry, Mike, John and his wife Mary, Maureen and Ina and her husband, Gary. Ina is the only person I actually knew only from high school. We were in the same Russian class. Yes, I took Russian for four years in high school. I can’t say that I’ve ever used it since, but I’m always excited when I can read some of the alphabet, like on the Russian teams’ Olympic uniforms, haha.
There was a band who played just a little too loudly, but apparently it was a group of guys from high school who’ve gotten back together and are playing some local venues. They were actually quite good although not many people were dancing. We were too busy catching up on all those years apart. But my absolute favorite part of the evening was when someone told me she used to have her hair dyed platinum, like mine! Made my night 🙂
Bus Stop…
A repost from last year you might not have read…
Why can’t life be easier? Why can’t things just work out? Trisha shook her head sadly as she boarded the bus, glad to be out of the chilly November air and happy to see that a seat was open near her. She sank down gratefully, pulling her coat in around her and grasping her bag closely on her lap.
The scruffy young man on her right moved his legs together guiltily, apparently realizing he was taking up more than half the seat. “Oh, sorry,” he said in a deeper voice than she’d expected. Trisha glanced up quickly into soft blue gray eyes that really did look apologetic. She couldn’t help but return his smile. “No problem,” she said. “I’m exhausted, is all, and just glad to find an empty seat.”
“Long day, I’d guess?” That voice of his just rumbled and as her eyes met his again she noticed the wrinkles around the corners of those eyes and the touches of gray in his beard. Not so young, maybe. “Long week, and its only Wednesday.”
“Ah, well, maybe things will be looking up soon.” How did he manage to look so appealing and sympathetic at the same time?
“Maybe. I guess. Sure.” She could feel her cheeks heating. “Sorry, I haven’t any idea, really. My job was just downsized today. Such a nice way of saying you’re fired without really saying it.”
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that! Perhaps I could buy you dinner?” Now he had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable. “Jeez, you must think me an idiot. My name is Grant Thomas and I’m getting off at the Peterson Avenue stop unless you’d go to dinner with me, in which case we can get off the bus wherever your stop is?”
“Trisha James,” she said extending her hand. “Peterson is my stop, too, and there’s a little Italian restaurant right there on the corner.” “Brunettis,” they said together, laughing.
“So, Trisha James, what do you say? Join me for a glass of wine and some incredibly good pasta?”
Closing her eyes briefly against all the reasons she shouldn’t trust this rather scruffy looking stranger she’d just met on a city bus, Trisha glanced up into those very kind eyes and decided. “I’d like that, Grant,” she smiled.
“Wonderful and here’s our stop now,” he said, guiding her down the aisle toward the door, nodding to the driver. “Good night, Lillian.”
“Night, Dr. Thomas. See you tomorrow.”
Oh, my, Trisha thought, appearances certainly could be deceiving…
Picture from Pixabay
Monday Musings about Coming Home…
I’ve just gotten back from a short vacay in Virginia Beach and the older I get, the shorter the visits seem! My only sister and her family live there as my brother-in-law is retired military. I so wish our houses were closer but thank goodness the plane fare is not too bad nowadays. The only downside is getting back to cooking, cleaning and real life!
Before we left well ahead of Hurricane Irma, we got to see one of my dear nieces and her hubby and two boys because they live close by. Her sister is in northern Virginia and we only get to see her and her family about once a year or so. It’s tough when family is spread around the country.
I’m sure many of you have the same situation as me. I’ve got two sons and a stepson and family in Illinois, a stepdaughter and family in Tennessee and another stepdaughter and family in North Carolina. My sis is in Virginia, my brothers are in the Chicago area, but already one nephew is married and settled in Wisconsin.
We’re planning a few vacations next year, one to Las Vegas for the over 21 crowd and my sis and her hubby and my hubby and I are taking a cruise from Boston to Canada next fall, just a week long getaway for the four of us. Yes, it’s a lot of work and some expense, but it’s worth it to reconnect with each other. We also do our Memorial Day weekend trip to Tennessee for hubby’s family reunion.
I must say, there are way more benefits than disadvantages to having such a big and wonderful family, including lots of great places to visit. We love each and every one of you!
The Visit…
Sorry I haven’t been around much. We’ve been in Virginia Beach visiting my sister and brother-in-law and their two adorable sister dogs, S’more and Cocoa. They are Cavalons, part King Charles Cavalier Spaniels and part Papillon. Aren’t they the cutest?
My sis said the vet wanted the girls to lose weight, if you can believe it, so she takes them on daily walks. Cocoa has lost a pound and S’more lost two. I’ve been going along in hopes that dragging me around the subdivision will knock off a pound or two on me!
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