Monday, July 13, 2009

Picking up where we left off

Several of my friends from different terms at L'Abri found their way to Dallas last week. I was out on the town all week long having little L'Abri-like conversations about life and relationships and spirituality and sex and Obama and experiencing the 4th of July in Texas... It was wonderful. Chris called the night before, Curtis didn't call at all; Emily and Erin made plans months in advance, John a week in advance. I took them to some of my old favorites: restaurants and pubs, book stores and museums; and they helped me discover new things: Thanks to Curtis's I-phone, we discovered this really cool movie theater off of Inwood where we watched Up and belly-laughed and teared up and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.





I rode the trolley down town for the first time! We hopped on in front of the Dallas Museum of Art after long-overdue, stimulating conversation about art, and rode it (for free!) until we saw a point of interest to get a cool drink and relax. I rediscovered The Sixth Floor Museum with Erin. I hadn't been there since I was a kid, and I very much enjoyed experiencing it as an adult. It's still an eerie experience, and one that makes me well up; but this visit was even more emotional because of the many similarities between Jack and Barack: during one of the short films in the museum, I leaned over and commented to Erin, "Sound familiar?" She nodded with a knowing and equally appreciative expression. We enjoyed The Crooked Tree Coffee House, free (and very good) jazz, and Pulitzer prize-winning A Chorus Line. I was even able to parallel park downtown---it was a magical affair.


I am thankful for these friends, their conversation, their love, generosity, and like-mindedness, their laughter, and their ability to simply pick up where we left off. I have the next few weeks free too if anyone else would like to swing by D-town. I'm just sayn'. :)

7 comments:

Brian Franklin said...

If I could, you know I would!

Ashley said...

You were right around where I live in downtown. I love it. We should hang out sometime - I'd love to catch up. :)

Talk with you soon,
Ashley

Anonymous said...

What a gift (rare?) to be able to pick up where you left off...thanking God for your good friends. Mom

christina said...

We will have to hit up D-town when I come back! I love the Crooked Tree Coffee House. :-) Missin you, but super glad you got to catch up with old friends! Love...

Krissi Dallas said...

First of all, I'm REALLY glad that was so refreshing and fun for your friends to come in like that... I can only imagine what that must have meant to you!

Second of all, I'm thinking after reading this that I need to spend a "cultural interest" day with Renea... I want to learn about art and visit museums and sit in a coffeeshop and discuss things I probably don't know much about... that kind of lifestyle doesn't come naturally to me, so maybe you could give me a tour one of these days... perhaps if I start on a new book idea after WATER, it could be considered a "research day"? LOL.

Love you, friend!

reneamac said...

Haha! Cultural Interest Day, I like the sound of that. :) We should definately hit up downtown FW. Yall have a great museum, and I don't get out to it as much. I know you start school pretty soon, so you should definately let me know when you want to take a "research day." :D

Erin van Santen said...

Thanks for letting me taste the best of Dallas, blueberry juice included. Those times will stay with me for awhile. And to all of you considering visiting Nae and Dallas. Do.