Impromptu Reunion

We made an unexpected trip to Charleston this weekend to support Goose and pay our respects to his brother who had an untimely death at the age of 40. We were all shocked to hear the news of his passing and wanted to be there for Goose since we were unable to be there when his mother died 2 years ago. The drive up was not pleasant as usual. We had to pass through a thick film of smoke through I-95

then an hour long standstill waiting for the police and firetruck to put away the fire from a burning bus. By the time we passed it, it was completely charred. How does that happen???
It was a somber occasion but it brought us all together for an impromptu reunion. Not just with our old friends but also with our past. We drove around Menriv Park and took pictures of the navy housing Erick and I used to live in as kids. He lived on Pulaski street and I on Ortolan.

15 Ortolan St
26 Pulaski St
It's funny how we lived in the same areas but at different times in our lives(ie., Menriv, Phillipines). We then paid a surprise visit with his mom's school Marrington Elementary and said hello to her cowerks. I'm glad we did that because it looked like she enjoyed showing off her granddaughter.

Posing with Lola Cel and Mrs. Richardson in their kindergarten classroom
It was great to meet up with all of our old friends. I felt a little like Rumplestilskin waking up from a deep sleep and finding everyone around me had changed. All the kids were grown.

The most surprising was seeing pictures of Chad's "lil Kimmy" now 16 years old and finding out from Alberto that his little brother Clint who use to say "Prankies Pun Fark" in his pinoy accent was now a mechanic. I think the last time we saw Kimmy was when we took her Disney at the age of 6. The funny thing is that I still feel young but seeing everybody with kids was like getting a bucket of ice cold water dumped over your head waking you up to reality reminding you that you are getting older.

Gangs all here! (Well, almost)