I've always been invited to join Art for get-togethers with his classmates but haven't been able to join them at most of the outings. This lively group is always very warm and welcoming.
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This time the meeting was at the Pearlridge Golf Club. It happened to fall on a Friday so we were quite late since I have Zumba on Fridays and Art has his Meals on Wheels delivery to do.
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As I sat with this happy, friendly group, I realized that they knew the Art that I didn't know.
They knew him before he left for the mainland to attend university, before he joined the Air Force, before he married, before he moved to Chicago, before he raised two children.
They know the class treasurer, the Eagle scout, the restaurant owner's son, the young kid who hadn't yet ventured away from the Big Island and seen the world.
As I sat at the table full of laughter and joy, I could imagine them as young teenagers who would have a lifetime of adventures ahead of them.
The next get together will be at our house. I'm looking forward to it.
.jpg)
This time the meeting was at the Pearlridge Golf Club. It happened to fall on a Friday so we were quite late since I have Zumba on Fridays and Art has his Meals on Wheels delivery to do.
.JPG)
As I sat with this happy, friendly group, I realized that they knew the Art that I didn't know.
They knew him before he left for the mainland to attend university, before he joined the Air Force, before he married, before he moved to Chicago, before he raised two children.
They know the class treasurer, the Eagle scout, the restaurant owner's son, the young kid who hadn't yet ventured away from the Big Island and seen the world.
As I sat at the table full of laughter and joy, I could imagine them as young teenagers who would have a lifetime of adventures ahead of them.
The next get together will be at our house. I'm looking forward to it.
Is that really the very young Art??
ReplyDeleteYup, that's him. ;-)
DeleteArt looks very handsome!
ReplyDeleteGlad you could attend his gathering. Next time, you should be ready with lots of questions. Does he have a signed yearbook? That would prompt some explanations! What was his Eagle project? Surely it was building something from scratch.
ReplyDeleteThat photo is amazing! Gosh, he looks SO young, almost like a middle school photo! I prefer the Art with the moustache.
During recent blab sessions with my junior and senior high buddies, their grown kids were getting information they never knew about their parents!
The '60s were pretty good, and the '70s with a lot of fast, rowdy changes. Hawaii seems so laid back, with a year-round summer, if I'd been there in my younger days, I probably would have ended up in jail. But, daughters of obstetricians don't misbehave.
Mahalo for sharing, DrumMajor
Art doesn't know what happened to his yearbooks. They must have been lost when his parents moved from place to place. His Eagle project was delivering newspapers to make enough money for the troop. Actually, I tried for the longest time to get him to shave off his mustache because I preferred him without it. Hawaii was pretty laid back in the 60-70s.
DeleteI can certainly see why that young man caught your eye. I am always amazed at tight school groups that continue to get together over the years. I certainly have not been so good about maintaining friendships.
ReplyDeleteArt was just waiting for you. With all the good looks as a young man I bet he had lots of offers. good choice, Art.
ReplyDeletehow fun. I learned a lot about my hubby writing his life story since we only met after we were both around 50. Interviewing him and publishing his life story introduced me to his earlier days and family background!
ReplyDeleteA little mystery is nice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wise and observant one you are!!
ReplyDeleteSeeing that photo reminds me of how much we change over the course of a couple of decades. I didn't recognize my grandmother in photos of when she was in her 20s. It was only until I saw my father's high school photo that I got why his friends said I looked just like him.
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful post, your love shows in each word, handsome man too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way for you to learn some things about the "early" Art. It is great that they still get together.
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun indeed!! I can see why you fell in love with Art -- what a handsome young man!! Thanks for sharing this, Kay! I'm sure you will be looking forward to the next gathering!! Hope you both have a lovely weekend!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. You brought a tear to my eye,.
ReplyDeleteGotta love him for his hair alone....Dianne
ReplyDeleteWhen I first met him, he had a VERY close cropped haircut because he was in the Air Force.
DeleteOh yes, it's unanimous, we all would have fallen in love with that boy! Do I see something of Jon in this photo or am I imagining it?
ReplyDeleteSo glad you now have a new group of friends, and you can get to know the Art they know.
Luv, K
Now that you mention it, I can see a little resemblance. Neither of our kids seem to look like us. People have often commented that they can't figure out who they look like.
DeleteMe too. When I first saw this photo, a Jon look popped out at me. Something in the bright and lively eyes, I think.
DeleteWhat a cute guy. I can see how he reeled you in. It is neat that you get to know the "before you" Art.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, but I picked up on two things I didn't know - that Art was an Eagle Scout, and that he delivers Meals on Wheels. That kid in the photo became a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteOh how lucky you are to have spent that time hearing the tales of Art before he left home. Now let's see a picture of you at the same age before you left home:) Bet you will look as pretty as he does handsome.
ReplyDelete