This past July, I went home for my 45th class reunion. My sister and I both had a wonderful time even though my sister and I never attended the same schools and didn't even live in the same county when we were growing up. It's a long story, but suffice it to say that we reconnected after our brother turned eighteen and was legally an adult.
Then I went home again in September to attend the wedding reception of my youngest niece, Sondra, who married Michael last April in Nevada. The reception was at the Inn Between outside Camillus and has for years been my favorite restaurant. The food was excellent, and my nieces and nephews kept me in stitches all evening.
Hugh, my "new to me" 1999 Honda Civic, made both trips without so much as a hiccup and averaged 48.597 miles per gallon. A friend who has a hybrid averages only slightly more than my Hugh!
Then last weekend, a friend I had lost touch with after graduation came to visit me. After having my email address for a year and a half, he finally emailed his way back into my life more than three years ago. We began emailing each other and a couple of years ago, when I needed an editor and simply could not afford one, I had the inspiration to ask Jim if he'd like to read the first chapter of my first book. He liked it and asked if I'd send him the rest of the book, and without my even asking him, he began editing the book for me. He has since edited the second and third books and will begin editing the fourth book after he re-edits parts of the second book to which I have added a new story line.
So, 45 years of not seeing each other, my hair is turning grey, he's bald, and we're both heavier than we were, but neither of us cared. Instead of 45 years, it seemed more like we hadn't seen each other for only two or three years. He likes trains and seemed quite knowledgeable about them so we went to Warther's Train Museum in Dover. I think he enjoyed the trains immensely--he bought a souvenir book that showed the beautiful carvings rendered by Mooney Warther. The carvings are incredible and they actually work. I'm saving a discount coupon for his next visit when I hope we'll go to the Warther's Sailing Ship Museum.
After a late lunch, he took me home and headed out for his next destination. I can't speak for Jim, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him again and I was sorry to see him leave. However, I can't wait to hear his reaction to the last book in the TIDES series--which, if he didn't go home, I might never hear.
Jim, thank you for a wonderful time and the HP hardbacks.
