A Saturday With Friends

Two of my dear friends came for a visit this weekend. One I have known since Elementary school and the other from High School.We had such a great time catching up, gossiping, laughing, joking, a little wine, a little beer, eating way too much, riding the Polaris ....... [video width="222" height="400" mp4="https://lifeonthebluff.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/atving.mp4"][/video]and then wrapped the day up sitting around a nice fire.It really is true that as you get older you realize what is important and what matters and dear, lifelong friends belong at the top of the list! 

Girls Lunch

Had a greet time getting together with the ladies again yesterday for our semi-annual girls lunch.There really is nothing like hanging with childhood friends! 

Childhood Teammates and Life Long Friends

Sadly as we get older we are often seeing our childhood/longtime friends more often for less than happy occasions.This was the case this past week when we had to say goodbye to "Big E".  Mr. Emmons was a close friend to Guy and his family for over 40 years and his loss is huge to them and the entire community as he was so active in youth sports throughout PWC.After the service many of our high school friends who were also touched by Mr. Emmons in their lives gathered to reminisce and tell stories.This picture is especially touching as this is half our starting line-up of our HS varsity baseball team so many years ago.                   They grew up playing Little League through HS together and have remained in touch.  We did promise though to get together more often and not just for the sad times. 

Reunion 2013

Each October a great group of childhood friends organize and host a charity golf tournament and after golf party. I look forward to this weekend all year. It's so much fun to hang out with so many great people who I grew up with for a few days, we get to share stories, brag about out kids and now grand-kids for some, reminiscing and remembering when!The last few years I have volunteered to help set-up the morning of the golf tourney and then help check in the golfers with my HS friends Denise, Pam, the other Pam and Bridget. Once the work is done and the golfers hit the links we get to play, we grab a few golf carts and spend the day checking in with all the golfers, making sure they are having a blast and share some laughs (this is not a serious competitive tournament). This year Guy joined us and was my chauffeur for the day.

Golf done, now it's time to party! This years after party was combined with the 35th anniversary of graduation for the class of 78 so even more friends arrived, more stories were shared and laughter was the rule of the night.Me, Denise, Bridget and PamKaren "Stouts" and Me.We were having such a great time that before we knew it the party was over, but not our night, we moved out to the pool deck where we talked and laughed until 5:00 am. None of us could believe we stayed up all night, guess we aren't as old as we thought LOLWe are already counting down until next years weekend of golf and fun.

Great Friends and a Pig Roast

Everyone should be blessed with at least one friend who will be there for you no matter what, no matter the years or the distance that seperate you.  I have that friend in Debbie N.Although she lives in Ft. Lauderdale with her husband Tim (who I have also known since High School) and their two wonderful children and even though we only see each other a few days each year, when we do see each other it seems like time stands still.  Debbie and I met on the first day of High School, over 35 years ago  and while it has been almost that long since we lived in the same place, our friendship has never wavered. She really is my BFF!  While Guy has known Tim since High School where they played sports together and got into all kinds of mischief with the rest of "boys club" he never really knew Debbie (since she moved in 11th grade) but they became fast friends Saturday night and that makes me so happy :)Debbie and her family were in town to run a 5k ColorRun to benefit cancer research and to visit Tim's family.  We were invited to join them for an evening BBQ at Tim's brothers home. Not only was I excited to see Debbie and Tim, but I had not seen Tim's family in many, many years so I was doubly happy to attend.We had so much fun! Debbie and I caught up, laughed, cried and gossiped as we always do when we are together.  We, along with Tim and Guy drank a few to many beers and decided their kids were finally old enough to hear a few of our tales from HS.  Some of our revelations shocked them I must say.Debbie and I (not my best photo I must say)Guy and Tim sharing a few laughs For the BBQ Tim roasted an entire pig in a "China Box".  I had never seen this done before and was really looking forward to trying the pork as it is one of my favorites.  Tim did not disappoint.  It was amazing!! Tender, moist, cooked to perfection. I so wish we lived closer together and these times together are so fun and so special.  We are hoping they (Deb and Tim) come up for the HS gathering in October, if not Guy and I have promised to get down to their place hopefully by the end of the year.We love you guys...

Belle Isle State Park -Part II We Have Company

Later in the day we decided to give a call to Guy's childhood friend Brian W. who owns a house about 1/2 hour from the campsite to see if they were down for the weekend.  They were and we invited them to head over for dinner and to see the new camper.  It was so fun to get together with Brian, his GF Kim and their "baby" Tater.  We shared stories, laughed, had a great dinner cooked over the fire of course and just visited.  It was low key and so fun they came back on Sunday and we did it all over again :) Having friends at the site was an added bonus and made the weekend even more fun.