I took the first of two summer vacations and not only was it a trip back home to see my mom, but also a trip back in time. Mom and I did the usual things you do when your with your mom. ERRANDS! But, that was okay. So, were all the great meals and the good company! I enjoyed the Sunday brunch my mom’s friend through for her daughter. Lots of blintzes and things! Even enjoyed the crossword puzzles we did. As always, there’s the talk of what’s happened to this person and that.

The real time machine was a dining room table in Plano. The restaurant Sweet Basil. Phil Daneman was an old friend I hadn’t seen since high school. We both went to Hillcrest. Go Panthers! We were both in the band. We knew a lot of the same people. Phil stayed more connected to those we knew. Maybe it was because he’s lived in Dallas for many of the years since we graduated. He filled me in on everyone he knew. It was like watching a newscast filled with stories of people I hadn’t thought of in years.

I was saddened to hear some of the darker stories. Happy to hear about the successes. Fascinated to hear about people I handn’t thought of in so long.

Its always nice to go back in time, though, in many ways it was surreal.