Sunday, July 3, 2016

Down Memory Lane

Many of my closest friends growing up were guys.  Even before puberty, I experienced the beauty and value of boyfriends with Alex.  I went on to log a million hours driving around aimlessly with Ryan, wasting gas and laughing.  There were plenty of others before a later connection with Brady, who remains one of my most consistent friends to date.  But one of my all-time favorite fellows, around whom so very many of my youthful memories evolve, was Gillig.

Gillig was one of the best.  Before we were old enough to vote, we were discussing systemic racism and poverty in Mr.Shue’s sociology class, and trying to curse in French when we thought Madame Gladfelter couldn’t hear us.  I don’t remember him ever creating drama or talking smack, nor do I remember him ever aligning himself with any of the cliques, however many cool points he would have been awarded by their exclusivity.  He was a star athlete in a sport nobody realized existed, and I understand looking back, a bit of a hunk. Together we giggled our way through high school, more often than not at his nerdy jokes, while we eagerly awaited our graduation into the big wide world that fascinated us. 

After achieving his degree on a fencing scholarship, he went on to live and work all over the world.  A ski instructor in Canada, seasons in Central America, years here and there in Europe.  Truthfully, he became so cool, I was a little worried.  All the same, I was way more excited to see him than anything else Sydney had to offer.  It took me about 5 post-reunion seconds to realize, like a million times before, I needn’t have worried.

Gillig and I were able to spend a few long and lazy days together with his gorgeous wife Shirin, and their squeaky new baby Charlie.  Like 20 years before, we talked as much about international relations and adventure as we did about Kiwi cartoons and our mutual friends.  Adult Gillig is much the same as the affable fellow I remember, except that now, apart from remaining the king of nerd humor, he is a master in the kitchen, and a most loving family man.  My time with his recently expanded little family was some of the best I’ve spent on the road, and a solid reminder of how much I love my mates.  Next time Gilligs, the oysters are on me!


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