An Old Friend in Juneau for Christmas

A fun day today. An OLD friend, Brent Long, who grew-up down in my old neighborhood by the Federal Building is in town to visit his elderly dad. I hadn't seen Brent since high school - we have a mutual friend, his cousin's husband, Kevin Henderson, who works for the Department of Health and Social Services. I had asked Kevin for Brent's email some time ago and sent Brent an email earlier this month inquiring if he would be up for the holidays.

Brent replied that he would be in Juneau and this morning we went out for coffee and then did some touring of the old burg. Even though we hadn't seen each other in decades we had no problem with conversation - lots of good memories from the neighborhood and lots of catching-up to do.

Brent will be back-up for a cousin's wedding in January. I hope to see him again and maybe round-up a few folks for pizza. He'd really like to see John Chapman who lived just down the street from him.

Tonight Dougie, Eric, and I are going to a high school basketball game. Haven't been to one since high school. So it's a nostalgia laden day.

Among the fun-filled events of my early youth few things topped a good birthday party. So, in the spirit of the moment I offer a few pics of birthday parties at my family's house on 11th Street - I think these are from 1960-61 or 1961-62.

From left to right: Elmer, Stevie Reid, and Brent Long.

Same as above with Dennis Reid added on the far left.

From left to right: Brent Long, Patrick Greany, and Jim Trucano.

From left to right: Elmer, John Chapman, Brent Long, Chuck Nygaard, Bob Chapman, Dylan Gibson, and Jim Trucano.

It was a damn fine neighborhood and we had lots of fun doing all the traditional kid things - many of which involved toys which have long since been taken off the market as serious kid hazards. Not that we didn't get into trouble from time-to-time like when Stevie Reid almost burned-down the Chapman's house. Still, it was good clean fun for the most part.

Brent's house was right-up against the cemetary - which was a primary playground. Flying kites, sailing balsa wood airplanes, playing baseball, sledding, and playing "army" were among our favourite pastimes in Evergreen Cemetary. And on the streets of the neighborhood playing with Super Balls (c'mon they weren't REALLY that dangerous), water balloon fights, riding bikes, making "forts" in the big piles of snow pushed-up on every other street corner by the city, and running through the neighbors' yards was all great fun.

Pretty much a "Leave it to Beaver" gig come to think of it...