Looking Back

It’s been nearly two months now since I left “the company.”  I still speak with many of you townies who I left behind so many days ago.  I also speak to many of my fellow travelers who left our favorite disfunctional little town to venture out into the world and find serenity. 

What, you ask, are the most common words I hear coming from these two groups?

Townies – Please get me out!

Travelers – Sure I’m working in a Leper colony, but I just thank the good Lord I’m not a Townie anymore.

I’m sorry Townies but this is the truth.

I, for one, have many fond memories.  Looking back at “the company” is kind of like looking back to those Friday nights at the roller rink.  My friends and I had so much fun skating around, weaving in and out between the punks, the hoods, the mullets, and the glitter.

There were the group of girls skating around in a Greek Phalanx formation, the prettiest ones always positioned toward the center.  No way to get to the center without confronting a guard.  “Why hello Ulga.  I was wondering if I might have a word with Candy and Trixie?”

There was the really flexible limbo guy.  Usually a thin Asian man I always noticed.  Probably was the same guy every time.  He came to this country and someone told him that Limbo was the key to a woman’s heart.

There were the ruffians.  The teenagers who bowled everyone on the rink over with their hi jinks.

There were the sucker fish.  Those junior high and high school couples who hung out in dark corners with their faces mashed together. 

There were the wall clingers.  The stars of the roller rink really.  Grasping at the burgundy shag carpets on the walls as they inched around the perimeter of the rink at a slugs pace.

There was the much older guy who was by himself and creeped everyone out with his Camaro mustache and serial killer stares.

There were the video game leeches.  They didn’t even put skates on.  Just hung out by the Galaga machine all night looking for loose quarters.

You get the picture.  I’m not sure of how these groups are analagous with those at “the company,” but I’m sure you’ll use your imagination.