Three conversations after Starbucks

Yesterday on my walk home from Starbucks I ran into three different friends from my past.

My former boss from the county days had just returned from a fishing trip in Montana. He love West Yellowstone and fishing on the Madison. Since fishing with a guide on a float trip, he is now two fly drop fishing. His bigger fly is a Spruce moth. A large (size 12) attractor fly. His drop fly was a green caddis fly emerger. We had a nice conversation regarding fly types and particular water where that would work.

Just as I was leaving, an friend from special ed days was arriving. He grabbed me by the shirt and we headed back into Starbucks. I only do one doppio machaitto a day so I kept him company has he drank his pikes blend and a ate an apple fritter. He had been a camp host up in Yosemite for two years. He has a 30 foot class A motor home that he parked up their for "a season." They loved to have his retired wife up there too. She retired from the police department about 5 years ago. He is a real people kind of guy with always a story to tell. He has been chasing dr. appointments for the last 6 months. The last time he was in Yosemite he had a heart issue and had to be flown out of there to Fresno. He is doing great with a pacemaker. He is not happy with what it does for his endurance. He has a walking range of about 5 blocks. He used to walk up to 7 miles before. He always has a tale or two about his kids. The son married into a Chinese family. Now they are divorced but has had to go to court to maintain a contempt of court warrant on his wife and their finances... my what a mess. He was the kid growing up that had to drive over the lawn of the junior high and burn some rubber. He is now 5 year successful elementary school teacher. The two daughters have had their issues too.

I told him about our great trip to Saddlebag lake this Summer. He asked if we ate at the little store there. Yep. He was amazed at the big breakfasts they served.
Needless to say it was not a minute conversation. Its great to catch up.

My last conversation as I was walking the rest of the way home. I ran into the shop teacher that retired at the same time as me. He had written himself a little "grant" before retirement, that allowed him to come in an "help" with the new person that was going to do woodshop. Last year he kept his finger in the bowl. This year he was been doing some subbing for Weaver, one of the country elementary school. They just cannot get enough of him. His wife is 5 years younger but has been diagnosed for the second time with cancer and is in another round of chemo. I told him all I knew about applying for disabilty. She is a kindergarten teacher. He said that she is pretty good until about 11 o'clock and then she totally runs out of gas. She has been supplying lesson plans for a sub for almost a year.

Its great to have such an interesting diversity of conversation partners along the walk.

Love Pat