I'm Back

Sometimes, there's just too much to say. Sometimes, there's nothing. I was in the nothing place. Sorry.

The summer before my senior year in high school was the best summer of my teenage life. I had this small group of friends that I was completely comfortable with, good people each and every one. Sympatico people. People who "got" me. That doesn't happen too often.

That summer was all about possibilities. The future was wide open. You know "future so bright, you have to wear shades." When you're sixteen and have no responsibilities and the most important decision that you make that day is who you're going to party with, life is good. The entire summer was spent making plans to go on tour with The Grateful Dead after graduation. It was fun.

We never did go on tour. Most of us went our separate ways, and life happened.

Now, thanks to Facebook, these people are back in my life. I'm feeling a full circle coming back around. Are there divine fingers pulling on strings somewhere up there? Are the fates plucking on that string that has my life on it?

My life had gotten very small, the way life can be sometimes if we're not careful. Kids, marriage, home, responsibilities and narrow focus. It's easy to lose oneself in other people's needs. I had lost myself in this way and woke up to a year of unbelievable loss and pain.

The beauty of loss and pain is the other side. We cannot enjoy the good without the bad. It's the cycle of life and these circles really do come back around, don't they.

So this summer, once again, is about possibilities. I'll be seeing some of those folks from back in the day; I can hardly wait. The talk won't be of going on tour--more likely sore backs and children and 401K's. That's okay, I'll put on my shades and look towards the future.