The Daughter of All Road Trips, Part C2The day wasn't over yet. I had been in touch with the few people who I'd hung out with in school and for a while afterwards, and we ended up setting up a get-together at one of their houses. Our host, J, has a very liberal and laid-back outlook on life, and Cassie and I were immediately welcomed, correctly named, and never misgendered by him.
Next to arrive was NM, who I'd considered to be the first and only friend who'd openly shown respect for me. He and I had bought identical ultralights back in 1984, and while I went on to where you know me to be now, he let it drop after a while and went on to other things.
Next knock on the door, TM. He'd usually been the driver in his Montego when the group went somewhere in the old days. I'd hired him as a minion about a year before I left my last job, and he now has the position I used to hold as Director of IT. I was a little anxious about him, not for my sake, but because he has extreme right-wing political views, diametrically opposite from J. As it turned out, the power of our old memories and the fun we had later outweighed political considerations, and they weren't even hinted at.
Lastly, R arrived. She was one of the few female members of the group, and I'd always felt close to her, despite the shell I wore. I'd had to make sure she was invited.
J prepared a great meal for us, and wine and beer flowed freely. At one point I sat at the end of the table and watched the interactions among these people who I'd known so well 45 years ago, and who I was now seeing through older - and female - eyes. And they were seeing me through both the lenses of memories, and as the person I'd become - and they accepted and welcomed me back to the group. When there was a lull in the conversation I told them, almost in a whisper, and with misty eyes, "It's so good to see you all again." They all agreed.
My wife had also been a part of the group, so we had a FaceTime conversation with her so she could see how everyone was doing.
J is quite an accomplished musician, though he continually denied it while wowing us all. TM was in the choir in school, and I'd always wanted to sing harmony with him, but was always too shy to let my voice out. But not that night. I finally fulfilled a long-deferred dream and let it ring. And it was awesome. TM was stunned by the music we were making, and it felt so good to finally join in. He complimented me profusely, and I was so happy - not least because I could sing the female harmonies convincingly. All that practice in the car by myself paid off. Cassie says she videoed a lot of it. I can't wait to see how it really sounded.
TM and I getting ready to make musical magic:
One by one everyone had to go, and there were hugs and best wishes all around. It's a shame I now live so far away. I'd love to be able to sing with them again.
As we left around midnight and navigated the Colossus on the half-hour voyage back to my sister's house, Cassie let me know (possibly due to all the beer in the afternoon, followed by wine in the evening) that she really wanted to get something from Taco Hell. Note to self: Do Not attempt to eat a crunchy taco while piloting a Colossus. I swear there was an explosive charge in that taco, because it ended up all over the conning tower. I think the Russians were working in that Taco Hell and were attempting to sink us.
So endeth Part C2. Upcoming: Part IV
