Not very often one gets to go back to high school in a good way. I for one, hated high school. I dropped out of at least three. Was invited to not return to Clearwater Central Catholic School. Probably best that we parted ways.
Fast forward 44 years. I am at a business meeting in Phoenix. I am meeting a woman that I have seen once in 30 years. She was my disco buddy in the seventies. She knew how to dance. I knew how to hang around her. She was all grace and style, I was all hang around her. But, I had a car. So a new friendship was born of admiration and motorization. Two catholic gals on the town.
I can tell you what beautiful looks like to me, and it may not be what it looks like to you. My friend Karisa had the coal black hair with curls of Sophia Loren and a shape like her as well. She had her Spanish mother's eyes and her Italian father's verve. She was talented in acting and in movement. I was good at geometry and reading.
Our young relationship was shrouded in family controversies. We retreated as all young teen do, into our teen world of music and sharing. Then, she married and moved away. I went to school, and school and school.
I remember her writing about a house and marriage. I had no clue. I was pursuing a Master Degree and working at the All Important Legislature of Florida. We disconnected.
Then, I had a conference in Phoenix. I called her and she made time for me. She was as delightful and warming and fun as I had remembered.
This is not a poignant blog. This is a reminder to say that old connections can be refreshed. Old friendships still live. What a wonderful evening we had today. We shared food and stories and walked the cactus walk. She told me of birds and cactus and the feeders and the moon.
We aren't in high school any more, but for a few hours, we were that young and that beautiful. We definitely will meet again.
Fast forward 44 years. I am at a business meeting in Phoenix. I am meeting a woman that I have seen once in 30 years. She was my disco buddy in the seventies. She knew how to dance. I knew how to hang around her. She was all grace and style, I was all hang around her. But, I had a car. So a new friendship was born of admiration and motorization. Two catholic gals on the town.
I can tell you what beautiful looks like to me, and it may not be what it looks like to you. My friend Karisa had the coal black hair with curls of Sophia Loren and a shape like her as well. She had her Spanish mother's eyes and her Italian father's verve. She was talented in acting and in movement. I was good at geometry and reading.
Our young relationship was shrouded in family controversies. We retreated as all young teen do, into our teen world of music and sharing. Then, she married and moved away. I went to school, and school and school.
I remember her writing about a house and marriage. I had no clue. I was pursuing a Master Degree and working at the All Important Legislature of Florida. We disconnected.
Then, I had a conference in Phoenix. I called her and she made time for me. She was as delightful and warming and fun as I had remembered.
This is not a poignant blog. This is a reminder to say that old connections can be refreshed. Old friendships still live. What a wonderful evening we had today. We shared food and stories and walked the cactus walk. She told me of birds and cactus and the feeders and the moon.
We aren't in high school any more, but for a few hours, we were that young and that beautiful. We definitely will meet again.
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