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Michael [Baess]'s wife,
Claire, had apparently been secretly planning an unusual birthday present
for him for several months. It involved contacting his boss, behind
his back, to arrange a road tour of some of the best 60s rock groups
performing across America for June of this year.
Last time he and I spoke by email, he had no clue this was coming.
Then, last week, I got an astonished email from him, saying, "Mikey,
you're never going to believe this: my wife just bought me a road trip
across America and I'm going to be in San Diego on the 14th, will you
be around?"
Would I be around? Was he kidding? Of course!
So, my girlfriend Barbara and I hastily made reservations at a local
micro-brewery/restaurant in a small town just north of San Diego, called
Carlsbad, where we could all get together and meet.
Sure, enough, come the appointed hour, 7 pm on June 14th, I was waiting
outside the restaurant while Barbara manned our table and ordered beers,
when a Yellow Cab pulled to the curb and Mike came flying out of the
backseat and practically tackled me to the ground in a flying bear
hug. Boy, was it great to see each other after 40 years!
L to R: Claire, Mike Baess, Mike Bear and Barbara Lloyd
At first, I was worried
things might be a bit awkward, since it had been so long since we had
spoken, but the opposite was the case. The two girls got on just famously
and Mike and I took turns filling each others glasses with ale and reminiscing
about the 'good ol' days' at Town and Country.
Finally, after a full evening of great conversation and good food, we
whipped out our laptop and showed Mike photos from Norman's website,
of Mr. Neville, sans crooked toupe, from circa 1950s, I believe, standing
in the courtyard of St. Mary's. He had never seen the photos before.
Then, after laughing hysterically over old photos and taking some new
ones of our own in the restaurant, rather that let them call a cab,
Barb and I piled them into our car and gave them a ride back to their
hotel on the beach.
We were sorry to part and made tipsy promises to come visit them in
the UK, in a couple years, where we have several time-share houses to
choose from, and parted with much 'sweet sorrow.' I must say, I have
never, in my life, ever had a reunion with anyone that I hadn't seen
in 40 years and especially not one that went so spectacularly well.
Great to see you and your lovely wife, Claire, Mike! You are a great
couple! May we meet again soon, in the UK!
I highly recommend it to anyone else on this list. The trip down memory
lane is well worth it--you will learn some things you had forgotten,
believe me!
PS: If I may: I message to Peter Nissan: I heard from Mike you are still
annoyed with me after all these years for supposedlly 'ratting' on you
for some long ago teenage prank in the subway. I have absolutely NO
recollection, either of the event, or of 'ratting' on you for it. If
I did, I am truly sorry and hope that the passage of years will allow
you to forgive me.
Mike Bear
San Diego, CA
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