Tags
AIDS, California State University, Chico, classmates, college, General Hospital, Madison Bear Garden, photo, picture, Playboy Jazz Festival, reconnecting, Whitney Hall
You know how one of my New Year’s resolutions was to reconnect with people from my past? My track record since right before New Year’s Eve is fairly good, all things considered.
Tonight’s reconnection was with S., a guy I’d gone to college with for a year at California State University, Chico. We haven’t seen each other since 1980!!! I found him on LinkedIn about a year and a half ago. We’d planned to do lunch shortly thereafter, which never materialized. I made a bit more of an effort this time and, after one failed attempt, we managed to meet for drinks this evening.
How does 35 years go by so quickly? It seems like just yesterday that we were sitting in the lobby of Whitney Hall watching “General Hospital” between classes, eating burgers at Madison Bear Garden and drinking adult beverages out of brown paper bags after hours at the dorm. S. and I didn’t necessarily hang out together all that much, but he was kind of like a brother to me. I reminded him that I, he and several others had gone to a party off-campus once. We’d all been rip roaring drunk and most of us ended up staying over at this apartment. Someone had put cushions out for me to sleep on, which had been comfortable enough. However, when I got up to go use the facilities, S. had snaked my spot! When I came back and asked him to move, he was drunk and refused! Luckily, someone else took me “under their wing,” so to speak, and deposited me in their bedroom on a comfy bed. S. said that he “vaguely” remembered that party and refusing to move when I wanted to lay down again! What he didn’t remember was the time we got drunk and made out! It was all him, though, I swear! I was just going with the flow! Back in the day, that kind of thing could happen without any fallout the following morning (i.e. no strange behavior; all back to normal).
We both had questions as to which classmates we’d been in touch with. Unfortunately, I found out that someone I’ve been searching for had died of AIDS several years ago. (I miss you, G. I particularly remember you picking me up one night out in front of the dorm and twirling me around for no particular reason; we were just happy.)
When they say that hindsight is 20/20, they aren’t kidding. If I could have those days/time back, I wouldn’t change MUCH, just a little. I definitely would have lived in the moment more and appreciated it more, though. So, although reconnecting is a good thing, it also brings back those bittersweet memories.
On a happier note, we’re talking about the Playboy Jazz Festival in L.A. in June; he said he hasn’t been in years. I’m thinking we should try a little reunion of sorts of people that went to Chico and particularly those that are living in L.A. right now. Will let you know how it goes.