The ring, the reunion, and mowin the lawn

When I was a junior there was this cute little cheerleader. For the life of me I don’t remember how things got started. But they ended quick! I remember that! But I just do NOT remember why she broke up with me...... It didn’t even last two weeks! Somehow…..in that really short period she ended up with my class ring……cool dude….small smile…I remember she had it on a necklace …. and then on her finger….and then…………..it was gone….. ?????? FRIG!!! What DID SHE DO WITH IT??? I mean….. breakin up with a guy is one thing ……but to throw out his class ring??? What kind of creature does that?? MY CLASS RING!!! Jeesh…. dude……you would have to be a complete #$%@) to do that to a guys class ring!! Now I can’t take credit here.

Somethings missing

So for the next 20 years Im steamed AND bummed about it…… until…….I get the call….20 years later…. “Is this Trey Logan?” ……yeah …who is this? … “did you graduate in 82 from LB?” ….yeah………who IS this?...........”I found your class ring………in my yard”…….. say again?....... “I said I found your class ring in my yard”. …..I start pacing…….REALLY??? …..NO JOKE?? ……HAHA….WAIT………WHAT??? ….victory at last!!!! Yeah dude…..forget HER!! …..Dancin now…....hhmmm hmmmmm hmmmmm yeahyeahyeah…..thankyouthankyouthankyou……where are you and I’ll come and get it!.........He gives me the address and…….. I stop dancin……. “You mean ……on the corner?” ….”little white house??”…….and it hit me….I used to mow the grass there when I was in high school……it must have….. fallen off….. or something ….. yeah dude……FAIL…….
She hadn’t thrown it away…..somehow she had given it back to me and …….I LOST it!!!! ..Fan……..tastic.
Fast forward to last week. Its high school reunion planning time and there are BIG smiles and hugs long overdue when we come together. Good natured humor and familiarity take over and I am instantly transformed back to being a teenager. 27 years………gone……
We are all together to let our hair down…and drink down the past to make whole what is owed after all this time….stories of youth …….memories and yes…..class rings……. Were a tough bunch ..….survivors of infidelity….….mistreatment……..loneliness ……disappointment…. unrealized dreams ……all……….stolen by time……
She is there……and…..I am never ……..on guard…….expecting nothing other than the effortless friendship of those I trust…… the bonds of my youth are strong….. and I am still ……..a rock.
Our time is all casual together but……..She is……not herself…..I can FEEL it. Her past she keeps with her….Then the words spill “I don’t know what I want”…. “Just once I want to wake up happy” and my heart…..is FULL with pain…..but the occasion is too happy for us to take up bearing crosses and so we laugh and play, completely satisfied with the bubble we have made. No bills…….no games……no pressures….
She is facing me, her bare foot on the arm of my chair And then…….
Instinct just…….comes…….I slide my hand across the bottom of her foot and pull it to me…both thumbs …flattening her arch ……….back…. and …..forth….. while we talk round the table. The comfort between us is …….effortless …complete…..unspoken……..still her past ……dominates her thoughts..…its control …….ever present……but…

When autumn comes, it doesn’t ask.
It just walks in, where it left you last.

Bring it……..bring dreams that still live… ….some dreams you just canNOT kill dude..….some dreams will NOT die. Even if they are forgotten……or asleep…. or …..lost in high grass for 27 years. … life is rough on people these days…If you’ve lost it…..find it……nobody gets outta here without battle scars and lost rings…..but if you’re lucky…you might just find somebody to help find it…….the reunion is in 2 weeks…….