It’s a retirement Saturday, so really no different than any other day of the week. We’re meeting a former work colleague for lunch to rekindle memories of our time at WISH-TV together. It wasn’t until I was promoted to the Lafayette station when my wife and I were finally married. Up until that point, we all worked together in Indianapolis. Now, the Florida weather unites us all, as our friend enjoys some vacation time.

We will meet in Nokomis, just north of Venice, at a waterfront restaurant. Most of the discussion will probably center around Broadway, although it has now been years since my wife and I have been there for a show. Our friend is a singer/performer, mostly local theater, and we’ve been to see her many times dating back over 22 years when she was in “City of Angels,” and “Sideshow” two years later. In 2005, it was “Listen to My Heart,” a Footlight musical. In 2006, we all met in New York to see “Putnam County Spelling Bee.” I can’t remember the last time we got together, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out through the course of friendly discussion. I do have a note in my diary about a lunch at Acapulco Joe’s in Indy six years ago, but I may not have been there to join her and my wife. 

I’m watching “Alone” on the History Channel, a series that is about as far from my comfort zone as possible. I couldn’t imagine surviving in the wild by myself since I have no hunting or construction skills. I’m amazed at the creativity of the participants battling the weather conditions, loneliness, predictors, and starvation. Mother Nature and I do not make good companions. I’m glad to be reuniting with old friends and living in a comfortable resort community – thankfully I’m not in the woods – All Alone.