0600 hours, Monday, 28 of July, 2004.
I’ve been out of town eight days and my furry alarm clock, ‘Furby,’ is right back with the program. He wants his treat and a belly rub and will not let me sleep past the wake up call he has programmed in his memory bank. He is a creature of habit, which makes me love him all the more.
Meggin and I arrived back in Reno Sunday evening, after an uneventful flight from Oklahoma City, with a stop-over in Dallas. Since we pretty much got everything unpacked and put away last night I didn’t have much on my agenda. How could I? I’m retired! I threw away my daily planner and quit wearing a watch years ago. I thought I would just hang out, relax around the house and yard most of the day. Meggin was back into her routine, working in her home office, getting ready for an upcoming presentation, no doubt. She asked me if I was going to play golf. “No, I think I’ll just hang out,” I told her.
After breakfast I went to the patio to lounge in the hammock and read the newspaper. In no time I had my two outside cats curled up beside me. Soon, we all were fast asleep.
“Larry, Larry,” I heard, startling. “Are you asleep?” “Mmmm, not now,” I replied! “It’s noon, you’ve been asleep almost four hours,” Meggin said. “I’ve checked on you several times and wondered if you wanted any lunch or a snack before I run some errands?”
After a light snack and Meggin had left, I returned to the comfort of my hammock to finish reading the paper. I couldn’t concentrate on any story content. Thoughts kept racing through my mind. Dreams.
Thoughts about dreams I had while I had dozed off this morning. I had dreamt about the class reunion this past weekend and old friends I had seen. Many of us had known each other since third/fourth grade. We had grown up together. Known each others’ parents, sisters and brothers. Been in each others’ homes. Laughed, cried, gotten into trouble together and some of us even dated. Many had not seen each other since graduation, 1959. Several attended the festivities for the first time. I hope they were rewarded as much as the rest of us were seeing them.
To me it was a most gratifying reunion. To spend time, however short, with people I respect, love and consider family. To those of you I didn’t get to visit with as much as I would have liked, I apologize. Plans for the next ‘U.S. Grant Class of 1959’ reunion, the summer of 2006, are already under way. Hopefully, the list of “unable to locate” classmates will grow smaller and a greater number of classmates living in the Oklahoma City area will make plans to attend. Most of us are separated by great distances, but with the technology of email, we’re within the touch of a button from each other.
I was still in the hammock when Meggin returned home at 1500 hours. “Have you been asleep again?” she asks. “No, just daydreaming, reminiscing somewhat,” I replied. “How’s your day been?” I asked.
“Good. Fun,” she said. “And yours?” she responded. “Oh, I’ve had kind of a ‘Do-Dah, Do-Dah Day,’” I said smiling!
