Corning, NY
11:22 AM
I woke up today outside of Corning, NY, Coopers Plains to be exact, at my aunt and uncle’s place. After a long night out with my cousin’s who cam in town for my sister’s wedding, I zonked out on the couch. Most nights a couch is not a good fit for me. I sleep on my stomach. Give me a choice between a couch and a floor, the floor wins every time. In this case, the couch was there, it was 1:30 AM, and my eyes were heavy. Strangely today I woke up early and in the REM sleep that occurs in the in and out’s of the morning, I dreamt that a cat was sleeping on my head. It’s weird when you dream that you’re asleep, but that’s what I did.
I love coming to Corning. My cousin’s one in Charlotte, one in Charleston are like older brothers to me. Whenever they are home I try and make a trip. Kevin (CHAS), just made me the postcard that I’ve been sending to colleges. Colin (CHAR) and I are the most recent Whiffle Ball champions. I arrived after working to a barbeque of beef and chicken kabobs. They had friends from way back over and I laughed as they told stories of their crazy days. A lot of them are similar to those of me and my friends. We were supposed to have a bonfire, but it was too cold. Kevin’s 20th high school reunion also had occurred the weekend prior. He was in Rochester shooting my sister’s wedding, so he wanted to go out and catch up with some folks. We went to an Irish place and sat outside. My cousin’s business is booming and we ran into the guy whose wedding he was shooting this coming weekend in Syracuse. A skunk also walked up on us as we sat outside. Luckily the tail was not raised and he kept his scent to himself.
Story after story was traded. It made me think of my high school. We never had a 10 year reunion. I guess that means that 20 won’t happen either. That’s a ways away anyhow. It would be cool to see a lot of the faces that shaped those incredibly fun times. As they talked about their friends who had died, images of my friends crept into my head. A snowmobile accident. Suicide. Motorcycles. Speeding. I guess we don’t care about the reasons, just the memories. I think their deaths have made me appreciate living for the now more.
Our night carried on and a surprise guest arrived. One of the people I went out to dinner with when I was in NYC showed up. I hadn’t seen him since that night and we filled each other in on all that had happened. As happens with the Sideways Syndrome, he asked when my book was going to be ready. I told him it was and that I’d let him know when it was in the stores.
I just got done looking at some the digital pictures from Caytie’s wedding. Great stuff. Even some of me dancing. Can’t wait to see them printed out. I still smile at the thought of her being hitched.
Time to go. Lunch at Aniello’s awaits. They always have to come back to their pizza joint.
Also, still no word on that trail list from the Adirondacks.