It's like we were never apart

Amazing.

I know many say this word is overused.

At this time, it is the only word I can verbalize and it still does not adequately describe the weekend I experienced with my best college friends.

My roommate Melanie and our friend Jim choreographed the entire weekend.

I had family obligations much of Friday but drove out to Catawba as soon as I finished up and made sure all the ducks were in a row on the home front.

I must admit, I was on. I left no stone overturned back home and no stone overturned at the Lake House.

The gang back home had enough food, treats, straightened house, an itinerary, and just about everything they needed to have a fabulous weekend without me and my overbearing organizational prowess.

Though I was going to be gone 2 days, my car was fully stocked, completely filled with clothes, memorabilia, 'goodies,' coolers, music, boom box, flowers and so much more.

I can not relay the feeling of liberation that came over me as I started driving out to the Lake on a beautiful Friday night with my Sirius radio blasting and the wind blowing through my hair.

Believe it or not, I had not had a bite to eat as I made my way west, but I thought of that too, and had cut up an apple in a ziploc baggie and had a few bottles of juice to make sure I had some sustenance for the long ride.

I really do not know what came over me. I was not worried about back home and was not afraid or anxious about the unknown in my weekend ahead.

I have seen most of these friends on a semi regular basis. There was one friend none of us had seen in 22 years. WOW! I can not even fathom that I have known these wonderful people for 26 years. And I truly love them all.

It would not be a weekend with college friends without contact issues. As I cruised west on Rte 2, my contact got all crazy and I had to take it out and then it was not properly in my eye for a few minutes while I contemplated what to do. As usual, it all worked out. I lost more contacts in my 4 years at college!

Just a heavenly weekend. Perfect weather. Jamming to Springsteen and the 80's to get me psyched even more for this long time coming reunion.

The drive time seemed to fly.

Finally when I approached the causeway, my adrenalin really started to skyrocket knowing I was mere minutes away from seeing my dearest friends in the whole wide world.

I weaved around the marina, looking, counting streets, looking for the reddish /brown shutters.

I did not need to do that. All at once I hear a loud scream of my college nickname almost driving off into the Lake.

I had arrived. I was home. I was among my dearest friends on this earth and in store for what turned out to be the best weekend I have had in a loooooong, looooooong time!

We picked up right where we left off 22 years ago.

It was as if we were never apart.