Eleven years later...

It's no secret that facebook has reunited people in various ways. It may be they went to school together, are distant relatives, or long lost lovers. Lucas Romanowski was three years behind me in school. He was a bony and skinny shrimp. Yes, I'll admit, I had a crush on him. I really didn't know him that well, but when grades nine through twelve consisted of only three hundred students, you just knew everyone.

We reunited via facebook about a year ago. I'd come to learn through emails, online chatting, and late night phone calls that Lucas was stationed in Louisiana serving our country as a Marine and that he too had a crush on me in high school. Who knew? It was so nice to talk with a familiar voice from back home (Wisconsin). Someone who knows what I mean when I say the words "Stacker", "Fest", and "Leinenkugels". When word came that he'd be transferring to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, thus resulting in a visit to Nashville to visit me, I was like a kid at Christmas counting down the days until his arrival.

When Lucas arrived, we had just had eleven days of rain and the water was high. The bright idea was born that we should go canoeing. As I said, the water was high, moving very fast, and disgustingly brown from all the dirt run off. Once the canoe was in, we needed no paddles but Lucas used his while I guided (someone had to...hehe). We made a few stops along the way including an old 8x8 wood shack. We noticed some cows grazing behind us over the hill so Lucas posed for a photo with them. It wasn't until we were mid photo that I noticed the bull (NOT COW) directly behind Lucas snorting, drooling, and looking all too irritated for me. I snapped the photo and ran back to the canoe with a pounding heart. I still think it was odd that Lucas ran ahead of me....

Our next stop was at a tree rope swing (down from Alan Jackson's house) where many still swing from during the hot summer temps. As we tried to get to the tree, we slid each and every way due to the muddy slope.

The rest of the float was calm... until we got to the end of the trip. We knew where we were suppose to exit the river at, but when we saw the spot, we looked at one another with a "you've got to be kidding me" faces. It was literally an uphill mud slide. As soon as I got out of the canoe and put one foot (I took my shoes off for this one) on the ground, my foot slid out from underneath of me. Fifteen minutes later, we were both on land with the canoe.... covered in mud. Since the guide was not there to pick us up, we were unsure if that was the spot to be so we decided to put the canoe back in and go down river a bit. I'll admit, my idea on how to get the canoe back into the water was not my brightest idea, but it was one that'll never be forgotten. Since we had to take it back down the hill of mud, why not hop in and slide down the hill till we hit the water? It sounded easy enough, but my plan didn't work so good. I got in the front and Lucas pushed off from the back and jumped in as we started our descend. (imagine winter tobogganing) The front of the canoe went directly underneath the water and in a matter of seconds we tipped over. We lost a shoe, bottled drinks, and an oar. Not good. We struggled for twenty minutes to stand up while continually laughing AND get the canoe tipped back over. I think it was Lucas' Marine muscles that got the canoe tipped back over.

This is where I would insert a photo of the experience, but Lucas took an underwater film camera for this reason exactly. Upon development, there will be photos that I can't wait to see and share.

unfortunately, the Ryman was closed.... but it's the "Mother Church of Country Music"

We also did some bowling, which was a blast! We both started out pretty horrible, but it wasn't long before we were hitting strikes and spares left and right. I thought for sure I was going to take Lucas down during the last game, but he came back and defeated me in the end. Not to worry though, the bowling playoffs with take place in North Carolina. HeHe

can you say strike??? hehe

can you say gutter ball? hehe

We filled the evenings with great conversation and movies (we need to pick better ones next time).

I also came to find out that Lucas is a great breakfast cook. The best eggs anyone has ever made me!

I have had a few people ask if a trip to North Carolina is in my near future? I have gotten the invitation so.... probably.

I was so excited to reunite with Lucas eleven years later and I can't wait to see him again.