IT'S OLD HOME WEEK...AGAIN

Back in the day,('84-'85) I was in this band called Left for Dead. It was me and my current drummer, Badger, and was filled out by my buddy and occasional collaborator to this day Jon with another high school buddy on bass, Pat. And a harmonica player I knew from the hospital where we worked, Albert.
While it was great fun, it never went anywhere.
Everyone eventually parted ways and connections were lost only to be regained over time.
But Albert pulled the biggest shift of all, he went overseas and dedicated his life to ( simple explanation ) repatriating Vietnamese refugees. While he would come home annually for a vacation and a get together with his old hospital buds...time marched on, things and situations changed, and we lost touch for awhile.
I ran into him once about 5 years ago on a hike and bike trail here in Austin...he was home to stay and we vowed to keep in touch. Didn't happen.
Things and circumstances changed for both of us and we were both consumed by family and work and the usual bullshit.
I need to insert here that back in the hospital days we were rebels and allies and very good friends, as well as band mates. And he was a very good friend of mine.
Well,as luck would have it, we reconnected a few months back,but haven't seen each other-just a few phone conversations - (he lives in a different town) but the conversation tonight turned to ACL - the Austin city limits music festival - which he is attending.
You couldn't drag me with a gun to my head to this aberration.The crowds,the devastation to the park, the assholes gathered enmasse trashing the park and the neighborhoods surrounding the park...but he's always been a festival goer so he's going.
Even the chance to see Robert Plant and Alison Krauss could not sway me to suck it up and go.Not even the Foo fighters...I am resolute in my disdain of crowds and crass commercialism at the expense of peace of mind.
So I asked if he had any free time while he was here what did he think about:
Coffee...drinks...breakfast...a hike?
He say's "when do you go for a hike"? I say "7:30 or 8".He says "In the morning"?
And I say "yes".
So the outcome is this...my old friend and I are going for a hike Saturday morning (with Irene of course)early.
Times have changed a lot since we have seen each other, but the core is still intact.
I can't wait to see him, and hopefully, we won't get lost.
HA!
And I am reminded once again of that wonderful song by Joni Mitchell-
The circle game.