Paul ([info]outintexas) wrote,
@ 2008-03-10 22:59:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Current mood: happy
Entry tags:friends, thane, visit, weekend

A surprise visitor
Last Wednesday, while in on-site meetings all after noon, my cellphone buzzed a few times. I had to silence it due to the meeting, but after I got back home, I found calls and messages and emails from my friend Thane. Thane is a good friend I made here in Austin back when I first moved here. Many years ago he moved to the DC/Baltimore area, and we only get to see each other every couple of years.

Anyway, the volume of messages implied something urgent, and sure enough, the content of the messages was rather time-sensitive. Turns out he was in Oklahoma City for a conference that ended prematurely, and wanted to know if I would be willing to put him up for a visit. He needed to know if I was available fast, so he could make his airline ticket changes.

Now, there are only a handful of people in the world who could give me 12 hours notice of a weekend stay, and he's definitely one of them. So I called back ASAP and gave him a "Hell yeah" answer.

The next morning I picked him up. Even though I had to work both Thursday and Friday, we did meals together, and I set him up with some DVDs and stuff (I introduced him to The Venture Brothers of all things :-), and of course we had evenings together.

Friday night we went out with friends of mine downtown and pretty much painted the town red. Saturday we did brunch, went to Zilker Park, walked Town Lake (recently renamed Lady Bird Lake) through downtown, and ended the day out at the Oasis, watching the sun set over Lake Travis while drinking Mango and Guava Margaritas.

It was all over too soon, and I drove him to the airport to catch his flight back to his loving partner in the cold frozen North bright and early Sunday morning.

Thane is such a great guy. Besides being fun, he always manages to say exactly what I need to hear, just when I need to hear it. We always have great conversations, both deep and completely frivolous. Having him visit out of the blue like this was one of the most pleasant surprises I've had in a long, long time. This year is looking up :-)


(Post a new comment)


[info]liralen
2008-03-11 04:37 am UTC (link)
Hoorah! And yay for old, comfortable, fun friends!!

I'm so glad you got such a good visit.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]beckyb
2008-03-11 05:05 am UTC (link)
What she said.

Except, also, yay for margaritas while watching sunsets!

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]outintexas
2008-03-12 04:34 am UTC (link)
Okay, so I feel off the diet wagon during his visit (another blog entry for another day), but definitly YAY for margaritas and sunsets over beautiful lakes watching eagles soar over-head!

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]outintexas
2008-03-12 04:32 am UTC (link)
He and I actually talked about that. Even though it can be years between the times we see each other, we always just fall right back into that comfortable place, free to share with each other, in a non-judgmental and accepting friendship that is all too rare these days.

Thanks! I really needed it, and am so glad he thought of me at that time, it was just a great time. His visit also managed to remind me of what a great city I live in, which I sometimes take for granted, and all too often fail to get out and play in.

So fun.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]imtboo
2008-03-11 07:02 am UTC (link)
That is awesome.
I think so many people would complain that a friend did that at the last minute.
It's great that you were present enough to be grateful !

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]outintexas
2008-03-12 04:27 am UTC (link)
There are certainly people in the world where such a thing might seem like an imposition. But he called to ask (it's not like he just told me he was coming and to get ready! :-), and the fact is, he's one of those people who simply cannot "impose"... he's beyond polite and helpful, always fun to be around, and always real. Visiting with him is always a gift. The only way I would have said "no" is if I had been seriously ill or out of town.

Everyone should have at least one person like that in their life. Luckily, I have several. Unluckily, they all live far away, so a visit every couple or few years is all I get from any of them, but hey, it's certainly better than nothing!

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]streamsandpools
2008-03-11 10:23 am UTC (link)
Oh great! So glad to hear of you having such a blast. Friends are great, and yay for you for being sufficiently spontaneous to say yes to this.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]outintexas
2008-03-12 04:28 am UTC (link)
Spontaneity is not something I'm known for, but I make exceptions for the right events :-)

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…