A Different and Better Approach
For the majority of my visits back to PA in the last 10 years they have been pretty in and out, meaning I would arrive for a specific event and then have very little time to just hang with anyone else. I’m not sure if I did this because I always felt the need to get back as soon as possible to resume household duties, like the chickens specifically, or if it was just my general overall avoidance of extended contact with others. However now, with no more responsibilities at home that I feel guilty about putting on others shoulders, I wanted to embrace seeing my friends. This is one reason I shifted my departure time a day earlier, to give me more flexibility. The end result was today being one of the best and fulfilling days I have felt in a long time. I was out the entire day, leaving at 9AM and not getting back after 7:30.
My first stop was Dunkin Donuts followed by the supercharger. Last night I plugged into Todd’s garage but only gained about 11% of charge even after going all night. After topping off the battery I stopped at my buddy Charlie’s sports simulation shop. He has a bunch of indoor simulators for golf and other sports. This was his dream after being a programmer for most of his life.
He has had a rough go of it, covid almost shut him down but he has endured. I hung out there for over two hours, just hanging and talking. I also brought my One Wheel inside to show Charlie. I had to let it sit for at least a half hour until the battery was warm enough to allow it to be ridden. In the past I have described Charlie as one of the nicest human beings I know. He still holds the title. I gave him a a hug and headed out for my next reunion.
I contacted my long time friend Cheryl on my way to Charlie’s, also asking if she wanted to meet up, this time for lunch. She had a lunch date planned but said she could meet me right afterward at 3rd and Spruce, a place I had not been to in well over a decade. I had not seen Cheryl in about 5 years. Like Charlie, we met when she worked in IT with me. Like Charlie, she decided to leave IT and became a real estate agent instead, which she has become very good at.
Since she just ate Cheryl had a few drinks while I ordered some food. Despite the lapse in face to face contact it didn’t take long for us to fall back into a place where we just talking freely, catching each other up with the latest and greatest in each others lives. We were there until after three, past the lunch rush. By the time we left we were the only two patrons in the entire establishment, it was a bit surreal. I gave Cheryl a big hug and told her how nice it was to see her, because it was. Despite being in Florida for over 22 years I only have a few friends down there that I am close to like the people I have seen today. Cheryl sent me a text after she left reiterating how nice it was to see me which made me happy.
So during our talk I mentioned how pickleball was a new thing for me. She mentioned there were new courts in West Reading that I could check out. Oh really???? I was not supposed to meet up with Rich until 6 so I decided to go check it out. What I found was pretty amazing. The courts were teeming with players, despite temperatures in the upper 40’s. I walked down and mingled for a bit before asking if it was open play, he said it was. They had a simple system where you just put your paddle in a holster, when courts came free whomever paddles are next play.
Even though I was not dressed to play, with jeans and normal sneakers I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I always have my paddle in the Tesla so I grabbed it and got into a game within a few minutes. I thought I would play a game or two and be good. Instead I played for a couple hours almost, right up to 15 minutes before I was supposed to meet Rich. Despite it being the coldest weather I ever played in once I got moving the temps didnt bother me much.
There were a lot of solid players there. I had wins and losses with a mixed bag of decent to bad play on my side. It didn’t really matter though, I had fun. There is a solid chance I will wind up back there before I head back south and I won’t be wearing jeans the next time.
Whenever I am back in PA it always amazes me how compact everything feels. In Florida pretty much anything takes a half hour to get to. The place I was meeting Rich at seemed like it was on the other side of town but I still managed to make it in 15 minutes right on time at 6.
I snuck in behind Rich and tapped his shoulder followed by a hug. I had not seen him in 5 years as well. Rich was a little quiet at first which I understood because of some tough things he has been dealing with for awhile. However I slowly got him talking and then got him laughing. Before the session was over I got to see the friend that I played volleyball with for so many years. It was good to get through to him and he thanked me for doing so. It felt great to connect with my friend in a non-virtual way.
The day was really about as good as I could have asked for. I had meaningful, prolonged time with three of my friends that I shared so many moments with in the past. I am thankful for some of the work I have put in during the last year plus that made me more appreciative of opportunities like this and made me reach out to initiate them. I’m hoping the trip has more of the same.
Tomorrow evening I am hanging with Troy with whom I have shared some of the most crazy moments of my life with. I have a feeling tomorrow night might be making that list.