I’d like to speak to the manager!!!
The trip continues.
Up and at em.
I’m on the road by 10:30.
McDonald’s soda water in hand, GPS set to my next destination, and I am off.
I’m driving through New York.
Then Pennsylvania.
Then into Ohio.
Destination: Findlay.
Why you ask?
This trip started with me planning to visit a friend. Three or four days at most.
It became much larger.
So my first destination is to see a friend I’ve known since 1971. We met in first grade in Ms. Sams’ class.
We went to school together through 9th grade. Her family moved north.
We had not seen or heard from each other for years until social media. We reconnected as we all did when Facebook came round.
We said the occasional hello. Happy birthday. As we all began to post more we learned our stories were similar. Growing up in small town conservative Kentucky. Both hiding our sexuality. Both discovering who we were.
Fast forward and in 2012 just a few months after we moved to Maine my friend reached out to say she and her partner were coming to Maine on vacation. I jumped at the chance to see her.
Fast forward a few weeks and the four of us sat down to dinner in our Maine apartment.
It was great catching up. Learning about our lives since we last saw each other. College, partners, moving, careers, life in general. By the time she and her partner left we were besties.
We have followed each others adventures since. Kids. Marriage. Job changes. Illness. Buying houses. Moves. Deaths. Love. Life.
We’ve shared stories with each other for the past twelve years. Most recently through my posts. She’s followed my stressful life for the past three summers. I’ve followed her son through soccer, and baseball, and breaking his arm.
So when I realized I’d be driving near her home I reached out. And on Thursday I drove to the Findlay Brewing company. I walked in and there was Tanya Weising-Pike sitting at a table. I’d recognize her big smile anywhere.
I got the biggest hug.
And we were off.
Finally catching up. In person. After 11 years.
It was as if we’d spoken every day for the last 50 years. We picked up right where we left off.
We both had a beer. And lunch.
And we talked and talked.
It was so awesome to finally be in the same room.
Two hours passed in 5 minutes.
We said our goodbyes.
Got a photo snapped of us.
And I was on my way.
After 52 years Tanya is the same lovely girl that I met in 1971. I can’t express how much I appreciated her taking time out of her day to see me for five minutes.
I spent the next 3+ hours driving in the rain.
Got to Lexington. Checked in to my hotel.
Was asleep in five minutes.
I'd Like to Speak to the Manager!!! 