Some years ago I noted the particular suitability of the week between Christmas and New Year’s for travel to see out-of-town friends. Lots of folks are off work, and even those who aren’t typically find it a more amenable time to flex their schedules a bit.
Plus, we’ve generally already done our family gathering, and it’s copacetic with everyone for me to take off for a few days. I named it the Precious Hearts Tour some years ago.
This year I started in Clemson, where I saw my friend Cheryl. Cheryl and I met in 1997 playing the online party word game Acrophobia over 56K modems.
(This is still the most fun I’ve ever had online, and Cheryl said it was for her too.)
I went to see her around then, and she returned the visit a year or two later. But best we can remember, that was probably late 2000 or early 2001, because Lea and I didn’t have children yet. So this was the first time we had seen each other in 22 years.
From there it was a leisurely wend back to Newnan, southwest of Atlanta. This is a perennial destination. My Oxford High School classmate and bandmate Karin and I visited 714 Bistro, and then closed the Rock Salt Milk Bar. I love getting a recharge of her perspective on things, which is generally insightful, hilarious, and a little dark.
(Used to get a twofer in Newnan because I could visit my friend Margaret [from even longer ago], but she moved to the Georgia coast this year. I’ll have to see about possibly picking her back up next year.)
Finally, yesterday morning I made my way back to the Anniston area. I had a leisurely and enjoyable lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Thagard, my old Episcopal Day School/Donoho teacher friends who generally make the Tour every year and sometimes even a midyear engagement.
Then I had a midafternoon coffee with Annette, with whom I have my old pal Marianne’s friendship in common. When Marianne died suddenly a year ago, Annette and I connected online, and then we got our first in-person chance yesterday. She is every bit as warm, charming, and kind as I expected.
Finally, I met Jennifer and her girlfriend Morgan at Coldwater Mountain Brewpub, where I learned they are engaged! So very happy for them both. They are a darling couple and their love is obvious.
Back home last night with a heart grateful for all of the laughs, lore, and love. It was a perfect cap to my 2022.
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