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Published: December 16th 2007
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After my incredible first year in Korea, I was very ready to come back home. Home for me the previous 7 years was Miami, FL...so that was my first stop. Twenty nine seemly quick hours later, I was back in sunny (and humid) MIA...ok not so sunny since it was midnight, but you get the point. As Pete pulled up in his upgraded set of wheels, a sense of normalcy seemed to be setting in...and just like ol' times we were sitting at the pub, having a few drafts, playing pool, and talking about nothing but fun, and plans of sitting on the beach with our god-like bodies sharing a few coronas with all the guys.
A real friend is someone you can see for the first time in a year, with hardly any contact in that year (most of the fault being mine), and feeling like not a day had past since that last drink. Speaking of last drinks another sign of a good friend is when that person will have that last drink with his buddy 3 hours before he has to wake up to go to his fast-pace, stressful job. Pete is a good friend.
When
the drinks were gone and the friends were at work, home didn't feel like home anymore. Yeah, I wasn't going to "the Ridge" like I had been the previous 4 years, but I realized probably before I even left Korea, that Southridge High School was a good experience and memory, but one that I wouldn't be going back to, even when I am back on the side of this world for good.
So I continue through the week feeling like I was in a foreign place, desperately looking forward to the weekend when the guys (which include the gals as well) would be able to make me feel at home again. I had great welcomed breaks in the week with dinners and lunches with Cole Bear, Ursula, and Amy, some of the gals that will forever be my gals.
I got to see "the Girl," which was both scary and exciting for me. Last time I saw her was in the Atlanta airport saying goodbye with the hopes that this was the right thing to do, but the fear of the unknown outcome. Caitlin and I saw each other and it was wonderful to realize and know that
what we both went through during our year long journey of changes and growth, was the right thing (though so very difficult). And through this we are stronger people and we have a better understanding of ourselves and each other, and became better friends than ever before.
For those of you that know her, you know she is so so special.
So finally the weekend was back and so was home. Pete and Adrianna's place became the fraternity home once again, with smelly guys laying all around the house, and Adrianna counting down the hours for the weekend to be over. It was a homecoming for everyone. Driggs was back in Miami where good looking Cubans like himself feel at home as oppose to the cold average looking community of people at Harvard. Well thats how I felt because I was so glad to see that guy again. There are some people out there that just put a smile on your face that doesn't come off until you have to say bye, and Driggs is one of those guys. Unfortunately he is too good looking and he has more of that affect on ALL the girls that are
around. Fortunately we have Erick Lora to balance that out...hahaha...just kidding Erick. Erick is another one of those special guys that would make any friend want to move back to Miami...especially since he broke down and moved back himself. You will never find a friend as loyal and devoted as Erick Lora. (Eric) Driggs and Erick Lora, thank you for making Miami feel like home for me.
So after beach parties, wine at Juan's house, dancing, listening to teenage reggae bands...it was time for my vacation at "home" to end. I said bye to all my friends including Juan (you are my hero because of your kindness and friendship), Julio, Alef, Rafael, some of the old Ridge rats, Mike and Barbie. Unfortunately I did not get to meet up with some people, Cris, Alvers, Bouza, Angie H....and of course not having Nina just didn't seem right.
Now I'm off with an old high school friend, another one of those special people, for a 1 day car ride back to my original home...
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