Old Friends
"Well, there's one thing
That I'll never forget,
It's the beauty of a friendship,
That's not over yet.
Ah, if we never meet again,
If goodbyes remain unspoken…
I won't glorify our past,
But our bond remains unbroken…
If we never meet again."
--Roger McGuinn “If We Never Meet Again,” from the album Back From Rio, 1991.
It was a good time this weekend when I went to Ottawa to visit Pete Rose and his lovely wife Carol and their two sons Charlie and James. Alex Dittmer joined us as well. Pete was in town for his 25th Reunion, (mine was at a football game—sheesh, how lame) so he contacted me and we met up at Bianchi’s for some out of the world Pizza.
After, we had foo-foo drinks at a Pizza/bar place down the street. I am not drinking alcohol at this point, and my beer snobbery would not allow me to enjoy anything at the bar anyhow, so a virgin strawberry Marguerita was on my mind.
Alex had been at the Bears Training Camp and I visited my sister before we met up. I had a nice chat with Karen and Bud and went to the Ottawa Annual Book Sale in the park. Lots of junky “fix-it up books, Time/Life series, religious books, college texts, beat-up kids books, and the like. Not so much of the treasures I found when I was younger. Alex said the Bears looked good and was busy taking photos during he day.
While we chatted we noticed our missing or graying hair, our extended waist-lines, and assorted wrinkles and battle-scars of time’s erosion, yet we picked up our concern and humor for one another instantly. It was like transporting back to 1983 and making jokes and kidding each other like we always had.
Changes occur, as Pete was more mature than Alex and me so there was no surprised that he is more settled than us. He has still pursued his passion for music as he plays in jazz combos and bands now. Alex was the most dynamic with his wit and his friendly approach. It was no surprise that he moved to New York to work. Alex still acts, pursuing his passion for the stage. I was the more sage-like and a bit of a ham. I pursued my dream of teaching and using it as an opportunity to tell bad jokes to a captive audience: kind of a “wisdom and wit for the ages” thing.
Between the three of us, we have three marriages, two divorces, four engagements, an apartment, two houses, at least four cars, three Master’s degrees, and three employments. I would say we did just fine.
I hope to see my good friends again soon. Perhaps sooner than my wedding, but more than likely not. If we can grab Jim, Bryan, and Tim, we could “borrow” the dining room or den in Tim or Pete’s former houses, and set up for some poker. I am sure the current owners would not mind; as we are all “great guys”—no really!
--Roger McGuinn “If We Never Meet Again,” from the album Back From Rio, 1991.
It was a good time this weekend when I went to Ottawa to visit Pete Rose and his lovely wife Carol and their two sons Charlie and James. Alex Dittmer joined us as well. Pete was in town for his 25th Reunion, (mine was at a football game—sheesh, how lame) so he contacted me and we met up at Bianchi’s for some out of the world Pizza.
After, we had foo-foo drinks at a Pizza/bar place down the street. I am not drinking alcohol at this point, and my beer snobbery would not allow me to enjoy anything at the bar anyhow, so a virgin strawberry Marguerita was on my mind.
Alex had been at the Bears Training Camp and I visited my sister before we met up. I had a nice chat with Karen and Bud and went to the Ottawa Annual Book Sale in the park. Lots of junky “fix-it up books, Time/Life series, religious books, college texts, beat-up kids books, and the like. Not so much of the treasures I found when I was younger. Alex said the Bears looked good and was busy taking photos during he day.
While we chatted we noticed our missing or graying hair, our extended waist-lines, and assorted wrinkles and battle-scars of time’s erosion, yet we picked up our concern and humor for one another instantly. It was like transporting back to 1983 and making jokes and kidding each other like we always had.
Changes occur, as Pete was more mature than Alex and me so there was no surprised that he is more settled than us. He has still pursued his passion for music as he plays in jazz combos and bands now. Alex was the most dynamic with his wit and his friendly approach. It was no surprise that he moved to New York to work. Alex still acts, pursuing his passion for the stage. I was the more sage-like and a bit of a ham. I pursued my dream of teaching and using it as an opportunity to tell bad jokes to a captive audience: kind of a “wisdom and wit for the ages” thing.
Between the three of us, we have three marriages, two divorces, four engagements, an apartment, two houses, at least four cars, three Master’s degrees, and three employments. I would say we did just fine.
I hope to see my good friends again soon. Perhaps sooner than my wedding, but more than likely not. If we can grab Jim, Bryan, and Tim, we could “borrow” the dining room or den in Tim or Pete’s former houses, and set up for some poker. I am sure the current owners would not mind; as we are all “great guys”—no really!
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 11:04 AM
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