About 15 years ago a group of friends existed. They weren’t true friends, but they were a group who gathered around others. Someone knew someone else and the group kind of existed. In part, it grew, for me, as an extended friendship of siblings, geeks, and freaks. Some lived in a basements dabbling with DOS, BBSes, and Windows 3.1. Others dabbled upstairs in painting, photography and the arts. Some dabbled with themselves, and I still don’t know what brought the group together, per say, but I do know when I see it in the other generations.

There was one Tuesday in particular when a large part of the group ended up in downtown Pittsburgh. In Market Square we sat with the waves of spring washing upon us as late April was lambing its way towards the end of May and summer break for many. For me, I was almost done with Freshman year at Penn State.

I don’t remember everyone who was there or if I drove a group or we took the PAT, but I remember the one girl. The one with the crooked tooth smile, permed out redish auburn hair, and glasses. The girl with the torn kneeed jeans and green sweatshirt. I flirted with her. She flirted back. At first it was a “group thing”. The thing to do, but I remember later that same the day, eventually, the rest of the group dispersed. It was just her and me, and we didn’t stop flirting. I won’t ever forget the feeling of suddenly realizing we were the only two left, and the protection and excuses of being in the group dissipated. I remember the sudden realization that this was something else. For me, Something more.