2008_Feb_MahoneyAirport11.JPG, originally uploaded by nooccar.

My student teacher is doing a lesson on the Expatriates today about those people who leave the United States and move abroad for a period of time. He is focusing on the 1920s literary movement, but I am think about Dan & Madeline. Dan is my best friend who I followed to Arizona in 1999. He  met his wife, Madeline, here in the desert. In late fall Dan announced that he was moving his family to Amsterdam for two years. I eagerly congratulated him, and I think he was relieved since the grandparents were a little more apprehensive about being an ocean away from Dan’s two daughters. I just thought it was cool that they get to go over there for two years.

Their house is rented, their trucks are sold, and we took them to the airport Sunday morning. It was sort of funny because if you can imagine this family trying to check into the airport in the early morning dawn with a toddler, a baby, two cats, and about 15 bags and boxes of luggage. Believe me, no matter how jealous I am that I too did not fly off to Europe for 2 years, I am thrilled I didn’t need to pack up an entire house. The movers took care of a lot of it, but they still needed to make piles of taking on the plane, shipping, donating, selling, storing, and giving away. Donna and I had a dining room table of trinkets of food, booze, etc… by the time they left. We stood at the airport for an hour while they checked in, and I will honestly say the tears did come to my eyes as Dan pushed his family off through security.

Just this morning I remembered meeting Dan at a fraternity rush where I went with my gay neighbors. I had on a pink shirt and they thought I was gay, too. Dan asked me about a website and we got talking. Our friendship began in 1995 and I could tell story after story of our lives together so far, but you, dear reader, don’t want to hear them all. I will touch on just a few… How about Groundhog’s Day in Punxsutawney, PA sleeping out in the icy snow. Or a couple days tramping around San Francisco, CA in the rain, living in youth hostels. Or driving to San Diego, CA across the Sonoran desert with Donna. Or going to Nogales, Mexico with Nicki & Madeline. Or staying at the ranch in Tucson. Or my bachelor party in Pittsburgh, PA. Or living outside Phoenix for a year with our future wives in one way or another. Or driving to Philadelphia, PA on a whim to see Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert one night.

Dan’s daughters are world travelers, and mine will become one when we fly to Holland later this year. I miss my bestfriend, but I am eager to see what adventures we can add to the above list.