I Visited Michigan Already
That was a quick week. I planned every minute of my week in Metro Detroit, and I sure used them.
I flew in Saturday, landed, and borrowed my sister’s car to visit Will, Adrienne, and Aryeh out in Ann Arbor. We’re the crew known for just relaxing with beers and gamecube, and we did it. It’s weird catching up with all our mature responsible adult lives. That would be the theme of the week. Will and Adrienne are not only so cool that they come out and visit me in California, but they let me stay at their place. So nice these two, so genuine! If either of you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know!
From there I went and had lunch with my sister and her boyfriend Mark. They moved in together in a … cozy… neighborhood on the line between Pontiac and Auburn Hills. After that I rushed back to Kimball High School in Royal Oak for a reunion of the Drama Club. I saw everyone I spent my formative high school years with, relaxing together again as though all the years had never passed. Rehearsing with everyone, watching the show, waiting backstage, and performing again felt like living one of those nightmares where you’re in school without pants on except somehow everything turns out all right in the end. These kinds of experiences are emotionally powerful enough when you’re in high school, but coming back after so long felt like visiting a childhood home. In a way, that’s exactly what it was. Brad, Josh, Josh, Steve, Nat, Emily, Abbey, JP, Joe, Meredith, Danny, Liz, Amanda, Mareen, K, all of you, it was wonderful to get to do that again. Also a reminder that together we are a force to be reckoned with - we should all capitalize on that again.
I won’t relate the story of the afterparty at Duggan’s Pub, but I wil state that I woke up the next day with a bit of a hangover in the care of my aunt Shelley and cousin Vanessa. I wandered around town for a while, and then into the care of my entrepreneurial uncle Peter. There was a small family party for my return visit at the Watsons, and we had a great time together with some amazing filet mignon my amazing uncle grilled for us. My cousin Emily and her boyfriend Jeff are moving in together down the street from where the both grew up, how cute are they! Yeah, I probably shouldn’t relate all the familial news…
The next day was Rosh Hashonah. It’s always been strange being with my father’s family since he passed away, but I was very happy to see everyone even though sometimes they do not seem to be quite so happy to see each other! I got to meet Randy and Justin’s new twins as well, which was great and harrowing at the same time. I’ll leave that one as an exercise for the reader.
After that I went up North, to visit my mom and my stepfather. One of their close friends just passed away a few days prior to my visit, so they were assisting with the funeral as well as running their successful coal-stove company.
After that visit, I lost some money in poker with a serious group of Detroit Hustlers, stayed in Sean and Tracie’s new house (amazing place, I can’t imagine what it would be here in CA), visited Sanjay in Detroit (hey, Belle Isle!), visited Ann Arbor again to see Karandeep (and some 2600 hackers, accidentally), and got myself a hotel room for the Wedding. That’s right, the whole reason I originally planned a trip to Michigan.
Sean Nasrey married his long time sweetheart Tracie. In doing so, he became the fourth in a successive line of gentlemen who have grown up together to get married. I wish I could say more about the beautiful wedding ceremony, or the wonderful crowd who was there, but the truth is, if you’re reading this you were likely there. It was great to see everyone at the second reunion of my week, especially, once again, with a healthy dose of imbibes.
Then I was off again, back to California. I had a wonderful time visiting you all, and I hope to get a chance again sometime soon. To those I didn’t get to see (Ross and Seanny C, off the top of my head) I apologize. Everyone else beat you to it, make them feel guilty or something. For now, I gotta go get some sleep. Sleep well weary travellers.