I recently got back in touch with an old flame. I had looked for him off & on over the last few years. Unless you're searching for someone with a name like Engelbert Humperdink, it can be very difficult to locate someone with whom you've lost touch. Since I would never date someone named Engelbert (much less Humperdink), I had some trouble. Also, I didn't know if he had moved away from the area in which we grew up, but that's where I concentrated my search.
Each time I renewed my search, I found several people with the same name. That's not really a help. But this time, I found a link to Facebook and voila! That was better, because then I could verify (through Facebook photo) that I had the right guy.
Now, I'm not on "the Facebook" as I like to call it when I'm feeling like a fogey. In general, I like to keep my web-print small and light. And I didn't join the Facebook just to contact Old Flame either. But, I was led to Linked In and I did join it; it appears to be a more business networking site. (I haven't included much in my profile however. I guess I'm not sure the phrenology community is into this kind of thing.) Whatever - it got me an email address so I took the plunge. I wrote to O.F. and got a lovely reply very quickly. He sent me a picture of himself + sibs + wife which was cool. Also, Rake asked me if this is the one she told me looked like a hillbilly. (It's not.) I told her no, this is the preppy one, though I'm not sure preppy has the same meaning as it did in the 80's. (OK, I don't think they even say "preppy" anymore.)
Now the anxiety of reciprocating . . .
I'd like to send a shot of the kids (they're usually photogenic) with me hiding in the background. So, I'm off to look in the files I can access to see if I can find some decent pics.
Whadda you think? Have you reconnected with someone via the interweb?
About Me
- plug
- Having enjoyed fifteen months in Nova Scotia, I returned to the midwest in 2008 to helm a listing ship, plug its leaks, and set a new course. So far, I've reduced the leaks by about 2/3, the rats have mostly abandoned ship, and I'm turning the rudder slowly. A lot of the crew has changed, but there's no immediate threat of mutiny.
14 comments:
I do believe many of Chill's buddies think of me as his internet wife. Does that count?
Actually, I tried. When I called the home I talked to his widow whom I knew also. We had all been in college together, and they became engaged two weeks after their first date and were married within two months. Thoughtfully, he had come to tell me first after they became engaged---before, as he said, I heard it from someone else. I think he was the best friend I had in college, and I still think of him and some of his words of wisdom.
His wife told me he died ten years ago of a brain tumor about 6-7 mos. after retiring from the university where he taught for 30 yrs. and had also moved into administration. The last show he directed was attended by many of his previous students to celebrate his retirement, and, I told her it sounded like Mr. Holland's Opus. She laughed and said it was. She sent me the obit and service leaflet which reminded me of some of the facts of his life which I had forgotten.
He was a Jew (I hadn't forgotten that) born in Germany. His family escaped in 1938, and they took up residence in Galveston. He went to UT, joined a fraternity, then became dissatisfied and moved to our much smaller university for his junior and senior yrs. It was during the spring of his senior yr. he met his wife. I got to know him as we built and painted sets for productions during our first yr. there (he, a junior, I, a freshman), and he was a very honest, foul mouthed, loyal, and kind friend who never took advantage of a very naive girl. He was the best dancer I've ever met (ballroom), and had one of the quickest minds. He and his friends also taught me to play bridge, introduced me to alcohol, talked about theatre and literature, philosophy, the world situation, went to movies, dances, and always got me back to the dorm on time. We were great friends, and I loved him dearly.
I think it's terrific that you're trying to stay connected. It's best not to wait too long as I did especially now that we have the technology to help us find people. BTW, does that guy play the violin?
Don't know where you're going with the violin question. Oh wait - I think I do. That person I have stayed in touch with over the years. And we never dated; we were just good friends (though I would have dated him if he'd expressed interest). We've managed to stay in contact despite his refusal to use the internet. The one I am referring to in the post was the one I dated all through junior and half of senior year in high school. (yeah, THAT one) It's great to be back in communication.
I thought that was the one who looked like a hillbilly. Oh, well. No offense to him or to hillbillies.
No offense taken. Though I (aka Old Flame) did recently live near some hillbillies having spent the last 6 years living in Arkansas. I ran across way to many people with mullets and more tatoos than teeth.
My hair was way too long back in the day, why I have no clue. Now it's mostly gray and quite short.
I recently came across some old pictures from High School wearing a ball cap and 3-4 inches of hair down to my collar. Needless to say my two sons had a nice laugh.
BTW - It's great to reconnect!
Plug, you're gonna have to tell me who you're talking about with the whole violin playing...
Hey, Tex,
Now that I'm living in Louisiana I can identify easily with your comments about Ark. However, my residence is in a city which is light years ahead of the small town in Tx I left. About hair: mine is almost totally silver. My sons would probably say you're lucky to have some.
Best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family.
Hey TEX - welcome to the sphere! I don't remember your hair being long. I do remember the truck - do you still have one?
LIT - the hillbilly was a bit older than I and became a priest.
Rake - you met the violinist when we went to my high school reunion. Do you remember that?
Jaz - does that mean Chill's budies think you're imaginary? Or do they think he ordered you from Amazon.com?
I remember your high school reunion but I don't remember meeting him, I mean I met a lot of people so...
Last truck was sold @ 1992 when I join the ranks of the "Sales and Marketing" world. Company Cars provided, sweet perk! Worked for Quaker Oats for 12 years selling Brands like Cap'n Crunch, Rice A Roni and Gatorade to the likes of TT, HEB and Kroger. The Arkansas experience was of course so I could sell to Walmart. Spent a short time at Pillsbury (stay away from the cookie dough) and now Reckitt Benckiser, love pushing our Lysol and Mucinex Brands this year driven by H1N1.
We are finally seeing a downturn in volume trends as the flu shots around the country are making a difference in reported flu cases. OK I'll stop selling.
Maybe long hair to me was anything longer than short, or at least to the point where it began to curl.
Quite the newbie to the blogosphere. Kinda feels like Facebook without the 140 character limits and with a little bit more privacy.
I'm betting some of Chill's friends believed I was imaginary for a couple of years before we married.
I can't think of any old flames I would be interested in catching up with. When you are married to the man of your dreams there is no need to revisit the nightmares of the past!!
Merry Christmas to all!
I have reconnected with many people via FACEBOOK! Many from Camp Crucis.
I've touched base with quite a few, but only in passing via Facebook. I guess it's good to know that I can always find them. Now when I die you guys know who to invite to the funeral. Does Facebook do a lot of obituaries?
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