akjn westside: Reunion

It's taken a while to work up to this post ... it was something.

The evening started off with cocktails at Missy and Ob's house. The house was full of friends, fireplaces going and drinks flowing. We were having such fun that the time slipped away from us a bit, so we hurried into the huge white Hummer limo, complete with fireplace. I think there were 13 of us in it. Of course we brought our roadies. A big thanks to Jerry and Lynnie for coordinating the sweet ride - it was not only cool, but smart thinking.

We arrived at the reunion about an hour late. I know this because Kelly immediately hassled me for the one hour of quality time that we had already missed together. Anyway, the first of several trips to the bar began, and Ak was a trooper. He had a good edge on other spouses, since he resided in our fair town for a bit, so he did feel pretty comfortable. He was also approached about possibly "swinging" with another couple...ak DID look good that night! Due to the drinks, the evening is quite hazy, but according to the pictures, we all look like we've each won a million bucks.

It was bizzare to see some of my classmates, but I was proud to say I worked the room and tried to speak to as many people as I could. Ak even picked out a name tag and cruised the reunion as Andy Eunson-he pulled it off pretty well. The dynamics of the evening were fascinating. The core group would mingle then re-group over fresh drinks. I remember yick-yaking in the ladies room holding Kimbo's martini and telling her her drink tasted like dinner. I remember freezing my butt off smoking outside. I recall asking Penny Burkham if she remembered her mom kicking me out of Girl Scouts. I recall doing a drunken tango with Mike Oether - yikes. I remember being in the front of the group shot posing like Rita Hayworth. Was there a professional photographer there?

It was like a wedding - over too fast, too many beverages + lousy food.

Confusion ensued after the formal affair was over. We went back to Missy and Ob's in the limo, but ended up in Media again at Picasso's....it was the worst!! The music was soooooo loud, and there was a strobe light on. I was hoping for subtle lighting and good background music so we could possibly chat with each other. Instead I felt like I was in Berlin at a rave. We exited quickly, and made a last attempt for drunken normalcy at the Plummy....mistake. I love the Plummy, but this was something else. Missy and I were like conjoined twins-we couldn't move an inch. We finally got out of there and back to the O'Briens.

The next thing I remember is waking up in a pink paradise - literaly. Ak and I slept in one of their daughter's rooms in which every single thing in the room, everything, is a shade of pink. It was startling and soothing at the same time. We dragged our sorry bodies back to Judith Lane. I hit the couch, ak my old bedroom, and my mom hydrated us back to health. It did feel like I had just been at a high school party.

Erick & Chrissy