A memory

Speaking of Kabby’s nephew S. brought back memories of a very special event we all took part in. Some 25 years or thereabouts ago, in the summer holidays, Kabouter was visited by his nephew and his mom, and a friend of his nephew’s mom. He gave me a call and proposed we should all visit an amusement park in central Holland, as he wanted S. to spend some time with other kids more or less his own age (and me having 3 YF's at the time coming in very handy). Of course we were happy to oblige, especially since I also had RCPL with his YF visiting us. We ended up having a fantastic day with a mixed group of attendees involving Dutch, Germans and Brits of various sizes, ages, descriptions and sexual persuasions. It involved two (then) middle-aged BL’s, one younger BL, one even younger BL, two moms, a lady friend of a mom, five YF’s and a sister of a YF. The kids hit it off very well, especially S. and my youngest YF L., who took an instant liking to each other and were constantly trying to outdo each other with all kinds of daredevil boy stuff. One of the photographs taken that day shows them in close up next to each other with the mischief oozing from their faces ;o) Other photographs show an old hippie and yours truly, a very typical close up of the same old hippie, yours truly and his wife sipping a drink Lady and the Vagabond style, RCPL’s F – who was at 15 the oldest boy of the pack – being challenged by the younger boys and giving them piggyback rides, RCPL being his usual cool self, our boys and the even younger BL at the waterside trying not to get soaking wet (and failing miserably haha). My most cherished pictures of that day are the three Kabouter took of me and my oldest YF, 14yo R., in rapid succession, in which he managed to capture the very essence of the relationship between R. and me. R. moved to the other side of the world a decade ago, but as chance would have it, he’ll be coming home in a few weeks to spend some time with us. He’s in his 40’s now, taller than me, but still my beautiful boy. He doesn’t know the old hippie is dead yet, but once he does, he’ll be one of the very few fully understanding how hard it hit me. How hard all of this is hitting me. Happier times. Old friends Old friends Sat on their park bench Like bookends A newspaper blown through the grass Falls on the round toes On the high shoes Of the old friends Old friends Winter companions The old men Lost in their overcoats Waiting for the sunset The sounds of the city Sifting through trees Settle like dust On the shoulders Of the old friends Can you imagine us Years from today Sharing a park bench quietly? How terribly strange To be seventy Old friends Memory brushes the same years Silently sharing the same fear Time it was, And what a time it was It was . . . A time of innocence A time of confidences Long ago . . . it must be . . . I have a photograph Preserve your memories They’re all that’s left you (“Old Friends/Bookends” – Simon & Garfunkel) And now I can finally cry for my old friend... Llewellyn - Truth is the Daughter of Time -