All good friendships start ... at LexCoffee

John and I have known each other for a few years. It started like all good things do ... at LexCoffee. We would find ourselves sitting down near each other at different tables week after week, and figured we should chat more often since we see other that often. 

We 'progressed our relationship' into sharing the same table at LexCoffee, then eventually to the occasional dining/beverage experience at the local restaurant, the Southern Inn.

My fondest memories of John are notably political and law school conversations at LexCoffee, dinners with the NEST, and most importantly having someone physically present to celebrate the day I received my Green Card.

John, I am sorry to be leaving you as the one-man wolf pack, the lone NEST member in Lexington. Fortunately though, your fiance will make sure that you are never alone if you are in Lexington. More than likely you will be traveling to see her. Congrats on the recent engagement.

I will miss our LexCoffee conversations. Thank you for being a great friend, and being there in person to celebrate my Green Card that 19th day of June. It was a special night for me, and I'm glad I could share that memory with you. Also, thank you for the farewell dinner. And while I am away don't ever talk to people from Maryland hauling a smoker.

I guess I should also thank you for saving me from being BITTEN by a rabid law student.

Neighbors with Stories to Tell

My neighbors BJ and Mary have lived in Lexington for many years. I've known them for almost 4 years. I stopped by their house to inform them that I was leaving and give them the specifics about my going away party in Lexington. The next thing I know is that they invite me to sit down and break bread with them (dinner). 

I go with the flow and say Yes to the impromptu invite. JB and Mary have lived a good life, traveled various places in the United States and have great stories to tell. One of the stories takes us St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands where they spend some of their downtime. JB whips out the picture album to show me all about St. Croix and tells me more about their experiences on this beautiful island by point to his map.

... and then the technology geek in me kicks in.

I excuse myself, run to my house, grab my iPhone, run back, and pull up the Google map and we look at his old St. Croix apartment from the hybrid satellite view of Google maps. For him this experience is just amazing. He doesn't use computers but is amazed at what technology can do these days. He sees the ship lanes that they arrived on, the harbor they docked into, the streets he drove by, the country club that he lived near by, and the actual apartment and pool where he and his wife lived. His eyes light up and a wide smile blushes through the various images and street view pictures.

Technology allows him to vividly reconnect with his memories, and share an emotional experience with a neighbor about something so important to him. It is experiences like this that make me excited about being a tech geek: creating either empowerment or connectedness or both through technology.

People who have lived are filled with wisdom from their unique experience. They tell me to go on my trip and live it up as much as I can. There is no value in saving travel money for retirement, if you are too old to enjoy it. Those experiences are better experienced in your youth when you are more mobile and agile especially if you can afford it.

What a day!! I get treated to dinner with friends, an opportunity to make a difference, and great wisdom to live by.

Hiking with an experienced Peregrino

I have four friends (Ben, Tim, Cathy, and Allison) who have done the Camino. Following in their footsteps, I plan to become a peregrino (pilgrim) and walk the "French Way" from Saint Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. My friend Ben who lives in DC wanted to come down to Lexington, Virginia one a weekend for one last visit before I headed out on my adventure. Over the last few months I have been asking Ben a gazillion questions about the Camino, gear, packing, bed bugs, rain, shoes, etc. to prepare for my adventure.

Ben and I have been friends since mid Oct 2008. He lived and worked in Lexington as the local Obama Field Organizer for a short stint before heading over to DC. Over the years we've kept in touch and become great friends. Ben invited his friend Jane along for the weekend, and on Saturday morning we headed out to Big House Mountain for a 5-6 mile hike. Good priming work out for the Camino.

Prior to the hike, we missed a turn and kept on driving for miles before I turned back and got back on the right way. I should know better than to second guess myself (which left turn should I take Route 641, or 640, or do I drive further). I think this doesn't look right... let's keep on going. It doesn't help when there are also incorrect directions on the interwebs. But alas, after a few retraces I get it right. 

We get to the top. It is windy and getting closer to the edge is frightening for me; I can jump out of a plane with little fear, but without a parachute on my back and near the edge I feel completely paralyzed. The view is expansive and Virginia beautiful. The incline to the top was moderating challenging - and at one point Ben and Jane looked at me with misled eyes as if to say "I thought you said this was going to be an easy peasy hike". It is even more challenging when you realize you forgot to bring your water, but knowing we accomplished it without some H2O feels like a small achievement. 

Okay, I acknowledge that the picture ... is not my best selfie. I was a little nervous with the wind, holding my iPhone and being at an elevated gain of 2850 feet.

Ben is having a Jesus - Sermon on the Mount moment.

Jane having a little fun with the wind. Careful girl.

Yeah, right!! I'm not getting any closer to that edge.

A quick drive back into town, lunch at Mano Taco, back to the house for a quick shower, change of clothes and we get some well deserved wine at local Rockbridge Vineyards.

Exhausted yet ... no we are not. We drive to Devil's Backbone Brewery, have some beer talk to a very wonderful couple who have lived all over the world and have great stories and experiences. Later we meet up with our friend Katherine and grab dinner at The Bistro on Main and a crawl to the local watering hole Macados for a drink. Yes, we are tired now!

Saturday was eventful. Sunday continued in similar tradition with a small hike up one tiny hill to a historical place called Foamhenge. No, that is correct, I said Foamhenge. It is a replica of Stonehenge made with styrofoam. Ridiculous and entertaining.

We continued our adventures with a stop at Lexington Coffee shop, Walkabout Outfitters for some Ali-Ben student-teacher Camino lesson time, then touring W&L Campus, Lee Chapter and Stonewall Jackson's burial site. 

Notice the Confederate flags and Lemons. Whether you are for or against 'the flags', I should note seeing Confederate flags in this region of Virginia is not strange especially with it historical reference. On Lee-Jackson day they actually march down the street in full Confederate Regalia waving the flag. What is really STRANGE is seeing the lemons at a grave site. Rumor has it that Stonewall liked (or 'the ghost of Stonewall' likes) to eat them.

Something about the lemons probably made us a little hungry, so we went back home, made some delicious paninis. And on a full stomach we said our goodbyes, and Ben and Jane returned back to DC from their Lexingtonian adventure. I will miss you my soon to be peregrino brother (Ben). Look forward to seeing you and Jane in the near future.

Embracing my inner Cajun

When you spend 3.5 years in Thibodaux, Louisiana as your first US experience you get indoctrinated into a couple of things

• Crawfish
• King Cakes and Pralines
• Poboys, Gumbo and Jambalaya
• LSU football on Saturdays & Saints football on Sundays.

After leaving Louisiana and moving to Virginia, I definitely miss a lot of my 'Cajun' upbringing and people. One thing I have limited access to is Saints and LSU games, although there are very few Who Dats and Tiger fans in southwest Virginia.

In 2009, I decided that I was going to talk to every Saints fans I ever met, get their contact info, and start a Saints fans club in Southwest Virginia. I did not know that would be the year we win the Superbowl. Co-incidence? Maybe!

Samantha, I and David at Jack Browns for Mardi Gras

I met David on Nov 15th 2009 at Buffalo Wild Wings. I saw his Saints tee and he saw my jersey. My inner Cajun fired up. We struck up a conversation, and we decided to watch future games together. Next thing you know he becomes one of the most loyal fans of the group showing up at most games when he is not traveling, and doing what most Saints fans do: pulling their hair when frustrated and dancing and hi five-ing when things go well.

David is well traveled in the United States. He loves to take pictures of nature, animals in the wild, rock formations, National Parks and anything that would go in an 'America the Beautiful' brochure. Speaking of rocks - he collects beautiful rocks, and carves them up in jewelry, ornaments, or other mementos - as a hobby. I've seen his collection. The Man has and eye for beauty and the hands for craftsmanship.

David invited me over for homemade gumbo with fresh meats from local farms and also some good ol' boudin. Delicious! We talked about my soon-to-be travels, his past and future expeditions and he shared a gazillion pictures of how beautiful and diverse American lands really are and how to appreciate them. His travel experience has resulted in more added locations for me to visit.

Crystal, Melanie and I at Fork in the City, Roanoke, Virginia.

I met Melanie on Nov 8th 2009 ... according to my iPhone. I was watching the Saints play Carolina at another Buffalo Wilds Wings near Valley View Mall. At some point I walked outside and noticed someone wearing a Saints hat sitting down with a guy watching the game outside and chatting. The inner Cajun darted towards her. I introduced myself and what I was trying to do - create a Saints fan club. Next thing I know we trade our cell numbers. Funny story is later after a couple of games together she tells me that she was on a date with that guy; it was both odd and funny giving a number to a random dude while on another date. Of course context matters - but it is still funny. 

I met Crystal on Nov 6th 2011 ... yes, also according to my iPhone. I was with some friends at Applebees. She, her mom and dad were about to walk into Applebees. Her dad was wearing an LSU tee. There is an LSU fan in Roanoke, Virginia?? I have to meet this guy. I walked up, asked them if they were LSU fans, told them I was a loyal fan too. Assuming they were from Louisiana, I ask them which part? They were hesitant to reveal the city at first since not many people in Virginia would be well versed with city names except for the traditional ones like Baton Rouge or New Orleans. The next words out of their mouth was "We are from Thibodaux". "No way, I went to school at Nicholls State", to which Crystal responded "Me too." Turns out Crystal was soon to be moving into Roanoke, Virginia and I was the first person (outside of her employers) that she met. Small world - especially if you embrace your inner Cajun. 

Crystal, Melanie and I met up at Fork in the City for pizza and drinks... and lots of funny stories, ghost stories, and horror stories. It was so good to catch up. Melanie, I cannot wait to read the horror story you wrote. MAKE IT HAPPEN! Thank you for the pizza and friendship. Crystal, I hope to run into you in Bayou Country - keep me posted on the date. Maybe we can go downtown and hit up all the tradition college bars for ol' time sake - if they are still open. Thank you for the drinks and friendship ~ your Bigger Bayou Brother.

By 2011 the fan club grew from a wolf pack of one to about thirty. Our best turnout was when we had #30 Lynell Hamilton watch the last game of the season with the entire group. Lynell was one of the running backs on the Saints Superbowl team. Who Dat Roanoke was watching the Saints play with a Superbowl Winning Saint. 

This was my most fondest memory of the collective Saints fan club. Good things happen with great people when you embrace your inner Cajun!

A hungry immigrant, a farmer, and a goat walk into a ...

A hungry immigrant, a farmer, and a goat walk into a ... well, there are a couple of misleading problems with this intro.

1. The goat didn't walk in. It was more 'carried' in ... and before the hungry immigrant got there.
2. It wasn't a bar, but I know that is what you might be thinking. It was just the local restaurant in town Mano Taqueira a.k.a. Mano Taco

I'll just chalk up the 'misleading' as 'marketing' the blog.

Bob is one of my good friends. He lives near San Francisco, California, is a dedicated volunteer for Sigma Nu (Grand Historian), and writes fascinating articles for the Fraternity Magazine along with preserving Sigma Nu's History through archival management and preservation. I've never been interested in history, but through our friendship and fraternal connection, Bob has illuminated my view on the value of history and preserving it for future generations.

I told him that we need to check out the new restaurant in town on Day 1 of him getting here. He comes to Lexington, Virginia multiple times a year for two weeks at a time just to serve Sigma Nu. I told him that I really dig the restaurant. The food is really good - and supports all local farmers since they buy their meats. And the price is good value for money, so I definitely am encouraged to come more often.

I order the chicken burrito, but the gentleman beside me suggests to try the goat. I like goat meat! It's something new, not on the menu yet, so why not? After I get my order changed, we sit down next to the gentleman who suggested the goat and chat with him.

Turns out that Spencer is the farmer, who raised the goat at his local farm (Kohl Family Farm) and brought it in, and was trying out his self-raised product along with us. Talk about food being really local! I never imagined I would be sharing food for the first time and conversation with a local farmer who raised it at that very moment.

Just so amazing! Support your local farmer; eat at local restaurants that promote their products.

Thanks for lunch, Bob. Next Mano Taco - and goat - experience is on me!

A Man of Unheralded Service

In all my years in Lexington, there is one person who comes to mind who is very humble, appreciative, dedicated and sincere all at the same time. I cannot specifically remember when and where I first met him, but we shared a Sigma Nu connection. I would run into him at Lex Coffee, around town, at the W&L radio station, W&L baseball fields for the Rockbridge Rapid games, and I guess The Palms, when it used to be the only watering hole of the town.

We never really talked for long when we did run into each other nor hang out often, and in some cases we wouldn't run into each other for years, but he is one of those people that when you meet you innately want to keep in touch with whenever you can even though your paths don't cross often.

I recall the first time I asked him if he could assist Sigma Nu Headquarters with providing audio equipment for our team building activities and ritual sessions. He was more than willing to assist and definitely helped the organization in meeting those needs. Every two years, I would ask him again, and he would come through for Sigma Nu until we shifted our leadership conference Sigma Nu: College of Chapters away from Lexington, Virginia to other locations. His small but yet important contribution allowed the organization to impact over 1000 students through the years through ethical leadership training.

His impact was not just for Sigma Nu. I recall listening to him at WLUR 91.5 FM radio, and watching him volunteer and assist with Rockbridge Rapid games. His passion for radio and sports broadcasting is self-evident as he has taken W&L from very little to leading the way in the ODAC conference in those areas of operation.

Jeremy Franklin, it was great to be your friend all these years in Lexington. Thank you for your service to the Rockbridge Community, to the W&L Community, and more specifically to Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. I know what contributions you to made to what you worked on over the years... and the impact is has felt. Also, thanks for lunch - I know what to get you the next time I visit (minus the mayo and the onions). You are awesome!

A Boylan Evening

I met Ellie during canvassing in 2008. Since then we became friends and Survivor fans although we don't root for the same person. Over the years I have gotten to know her husband Scott and her kids Daniel and Katie.

Ellie and Scott invited me over for dinner at their home. We talked about my travels, watched interesting videos on YouTube, caught stink bugs that decided to play with me, and learned about dub step and jazz dub step from her kids Katie and Daniel. I always thought I was in touch with the current music scene. Yeah... next time I feel that way, I'll just ask teenagers what they listen to, and then realize I'm soooooo out of touch.

We had salmon, couscous, spinach, some amazing butter, wine and lots of interesting dinner conversation. By the time we finished dinner, I realized that I had forgotten to get a group picture so we decided a selfie during dessert would be ideal. But first an evening walk around the block.

Delicious brownies and vanilla ice-cream topped with fudge syrup. I'm glad I ran a 5K earlier. During dessert, we talked about my upcoming trip to Spain (Camino), and our mutual friends (Tim & Cathy) previous travels on the Camino de James in 2012, their blog, and their upcoming Camino adventure in 2014.

I realized in mid-stream conversation that they had never seen the movie The Way nor the trailer. What???? You have three friends - two who have completed it and are going again, one who is about to undertake it, and you follow both our blogs ... but have never seen the movie.

Guess what we are doing now ... good ol' family movie time ... it always feels great sharing what I am about to do with friends and in the process re-kindle my own passion to undertake the Camino.

An awesome evening with awesome friends makes for some awesome memories.