Seeing Old Friends

Today Gary and I spent some time in Pulaski and Cass counties.

First up - haircut appointment with Lindsey.  Lots of laughter and conversation.

First up for Gary - a stop at the bank for some cash and to visit with Karen

On the way to Winamac, we saw Mark in the combine and Riley in the tracrot in one of their fields across from where Malchows lived.  We found out later that Riley knew it was us going by and waving and that she responded!

Second stop - Hague Insurance to pay for the vehicles coverage.  I am trying to pay more bills online or in person, and since we were going to be in the county, driving to Winamac was no big deal.  When we walked in to the office, TJ was there!  I hadn't seen him for several years, so it was nice to chat with him and catch up on family and what he had been doing.

Lunch time was approaching so we drove home by way of Logansport and stopped at West Side Diner.  What a warm greeting from Terry! Even a hug!  Nice chat with him after he showed us our booth. 

When we were ready to leave, I looked across the room and spotted another familiar face.  Jack Baker.  Jack and I met at the old building that Ivy Tech used before our new campus was built.  He knew me at first as Gretchen's office partner, then as the "Cookie Lady" because I gave him extra cookies to distribute to his students after I had used cookies to teach a lesson about setting up criteria for an evaluation paper.  When we moved into the new building, Dad had just died.  Jack stopped to  offer condolences and asked about Dad. When I told him he had retired from Babcock and Wilcox, he is one of a handful of people who knew what type of business that was when I mentioned it.  I was impressed.  He and his wife also expressed their sympathy by donating to the Wayne County Hospice in memory of Dad.   Jack is no longer teaching as an adjunct for us.  I remember Gretchen telling me she didn't know how she was going to tell him that he didn't meet the new credentialing requirements and could no longer teach for us.     It was good to see him.

Tomorrow I am meeting my first program chair for breakfast. If it weren't for him, I would not have made the move to Ivy Tech.  Tom's mother collects decorative and commemorative spoons.  When we were cleaning out Mom and Dad Siemens' house, I had posted on FB that we had a spoon collection if anyone were interested in adding to theirs.  His was the only response I received.  In the nearly three years since that, I have not connected with Tom, even though we live much closer now.  It was time to remove the box of spoons and the three spoon racks to their new home so I am meeting him after the fitness center tomorrow. His idea for buying me breakfast.

It's always good to see old friends, discuss memories, and catch up on what is happening in their lives since we have last seen each other. 

Today was a good day for that!