Marc and Teri

When OilMan was still working for "Big Oil", Marc and several other guys worked for him. OilMan is a much better comrade than manager, and we soon became the " elder statespeople" of this outdoor oriented group. We went to their weddings, and welcomed their children into the world. The stories of our parties are legion, and we revisited many of them this weekend.

We hiked, skied, and climbed Mt. Shasta with them. Special dispensations were usually granted us, in light of the fact that we are 15 years older than most of them. We would leave a day early and camp at the trailhead, or not be required to carry the beer! One time we started a day early and camped half way up Mt. Shasta. Overnight, a big storm blew in and we were enveloped in a white-out. Every one who was planning to hike up in the morning and meet us, came, despite the dire conditions. They all came (expecting to find us frozen in our tent), and escorted us back down the mountain. We never made it to the top, but it was definitely one of our many memorable trips with them.

At the winery with the beautiful grande piazza down the road, we had a selection of salami, prosciutto and olives, an antipasto salad of artichoke hearts, roasted eggplant and red pepper and capers and a few other goodies that John and Marc selected from the deli, while Teri and I sat in the sun. When the people at VJB see OilMan walking in with his special bottle, they rush to take it from him and fill it, because they remember us as local, semi-regular visitors. All in all a pleasant place that we continue to enjoy--until the tenors and the accordion player arrive….

With promises to come back next summer (and not wait another 15 years) Marc and Teri took their leave in their rented red Camaro convertible. They have a few more days of California nostalgia before heading back to Houston. Marc has retired, and their two boys are both in college, so they are seriously contemplating a change of venue. We tried to talk them into wine country, but they seem to be gravitating toward Boulder, Colorado. Time will tell….

We have become separated by geography, job changes, and the circumstances of life, but it is nice to know that there is a special, lasting bond with this crazy group, and especially Marc and Teri, that will allow us to pick up exactly where we left off all the while commenting on how none of us has changed….