God bless Google. When my old college acquaintance, Nicky Lampson, announced that he was running against Tom DeLay last week, my mind wandered back to my first days of college at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. It was there I made my several good friends. I hooked up with a couple of guys from Cali, Colombia. They were about the most exotic of creatures I could hope to have imagined. Mike was the child of German Jews who barely made it out of Europe before the Nazi curtain fell on that continent. Joe's family were Russian Jews who escaped the Communist revolution in 1919 with their wealth in hand, or if I remember Joe's story correctly, sewn into the linings of their overcoats. Wealthy in Russia, super wealthy in Colombia. Mike's family was much more middle-class, but they were not without their claim to fame. Mike's grandfather or great-grandfather was a famous movie director in German movies when Germany was a leading force in cinematography. For this kid from East Texas, that was plenty exotic. So far in my puny-assed life, the most exotic thing I had done was to go to California for a couple of years. Looking back, I guess that made me pretty exotic too.
There were a couple of brothers, Bill and Charlie, from South Texas, and a handful of others that made up our little social group. I had the car in the group, so I was included in a lot of activities. For some reason, one of my most compelling memories seems to be riding in a car very late at night with someone getting sick in the backseat. Also for some reason, to this day I do not care too much for rum which, coincidentally, was our drink of choice that couple of years, usually mixed with coke.
Mike went on to marry a girl with whom I once formed an impromptu folk trio to perform at the international student union's banquet-party. Her name was Christie. She was neat. About all I remember about her was that she was pretty and had dark hair. Mike, however, fell in love with her and they married. One little cute detail. Because of my singing with Christie, Mike thought I might have designs on her, and very sweetly, asked me if I had any problems with his seeing Christie. I'm sure he doesn't remember that, and she certainly wouldn't remember our relationship as anything but friendly acquaintances.
You want to know where I'm going with this, don't you? I Googled Mike's name and came up with a lot of information. Enough to send an email to him, simply asking "Is this you, Miguel?" It was. He called me on Monday, and we finally talked today. He works for LSU as an Assistant Director of his department. He and Christie have been married for at least 35 years, have three children, and he had the same compelling vibrancy in his voice that I found so fascinating when I met him 40 years ago.
Boy, do we have some catching up to do. Today I sent him a link to my photographic autobiography. I can't wait to see his.
Just thought I'd share this Kodak moment with you. Now I'm off to see that movie about the two bi-sexual sheepherders in Wyoming. I've promised several that I'd write about it, regardless of whether I like it or not.
Tchuss.
Wonderful photos. I too have recently tried to get in touch with old friends. Found one, still hunting the next--guess I do this one at a time so it doesn't get too overwhelming.
Posted by: riannan | January 16, 2006 at 08:37 AM