with big brother, Lar
I arrived Friday afternoon with the same realization that Dorothy Gale made about not being in Kansas anymore. I suppose it is possible that the traffic I experienced was exactly like the traffic I left six years ago although I’m guessing not. More likely my reaction to it and my ability to deal with it were what had changed. With a couple of hours until my first scheduled rendezvous, I headed for the mall. Uhhh, check that. I sat in a looooong line of traffic headed in the general direction of the mall. One illegal u-turn later, I was headed for my old stomping ground—Essex.
Pizza John's in 1966
Pizza John’s is nearly as old as I am. Everyone in my generation who grew up on the east side remembers when John Coruzzi opened his pizza place in the 1960’s. It was a “walk-up” back then. Now, it is a sprawling, got-it-down-to-a-science, culinary legend. Still serving pizza, I go for the cheese steak subs. (It should be noted that it was only after I had inhaled my sub that I realized I had forgotten to snap a photo! Believe me, I was tempted to order a second!)
Pizza John's in 2011
From there I headed to Bill Bateman’s Bistro to meet my administrator-buddies. BBB is equally recognizable if slightly less renowned. Locally known for the chicken wings, my chums and I selected it strictly for the proximity. Despite Mark's car accident en route to the restaurant, everyone arrived no worse for the wear. Among my closest colleagues during my thirty-year career in education, Peggy, Penny, Mark and I were happy to share a few hours chatting and catching up.
I could not find my wallet after this photo was taken!
From Bateman’s it was off to The Dock of the Bay, my brother’s popular seafood restaurant located idyllically on shore the Chesapeake Bay. (A theme wouldn’t be a theme without consistency; right?) On the first Friday of each month my family (thanks to resident events planner, Karen) schedules a come-as-you-are dinner at the DotB. For me there were two great reasons for choosing this weekend to visit: the family dinner and steamed crabs.
Callinectes sapidus, the 'beautiful swimmer'
Saturday had one main event: lunch with my good friends, Marge and Ray King. Marge and I worked together at Overlea High School. She had been the principal’s secretary for years prior to my arrival. After nine years in the fox hole together, we retired together. I can still remember her exact words when she told me she was leaving with me: I can’t break another one in!
As the guy at the top of the OHS food chain, I can easily give credit to any number of people for the success we enjoyed. As you know, listing names is slippery slope, so I’ll reserve my comments to Marge. Looking back, I can only imagine what she really thought as she learned more and more about “the new principal.” Marge had encyclopedic knowledge of the school system. With the demeanor of a Persian cat and the tenacity of a pit bull, Marge was my protector. I’m pretty sure Marge invented the phrase “need to know basis.” And, I am positively certain that it remains best that I still don’t know what I wasn’t told then!
After lunch as we meandered towards our automobiles in the parking lot (while Marge made sure I understood her prohibitions on Dutch “entertainment”) we approached that sometimes-awkward moment—you know, the moment of the ineffable urge to tell someone the things you want to make sure they know. To express to them what they mean to you. To say what doesn’t need to be said.
I’ve hugged Marge a million times, and I'm pretty sure I always hold on too long. I think it was at that moment last weekend when I was supposed to let loose but couldn't that Marge said to me, “Don’t you say ‘goodbye.’”
She kissed me and said, “You say ‘see you later.’”
Actually posted Friday 9 December. Not sure how to update the auto-date as it reads when the entry was created not when it is posted. My regrets regarding lack of photo of Marge and Ray. Of all things to forget, I realized my error after I drove away.
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