My USMC roommate and friend Eric Lorbach drove down to Austin this past weekend to visit Anya and me. For those of you who don't know, Eric's from Minnesota and had been to Texas only once before. Don't worry, he didn't drive down from Minnesota, but instead came down via Oklahoma City where he's attending Air Traffic Control School.

Originally, we were going to meet in Dallas, but my car decided to up and die. To say my car "up and died" is a bit of a falsehood. It's amazing how dead a battery can get when you a) NEVER drive your car b) accidentally leave your dome light on after you drove your car last (which was god knows when) and c) have a battery as old as time that's crusted over with corrosion and whatnot.

But being the hard chargin' Devildog that he is, he decided to drive right through Dallas and on down to Austin.

It had been a year or two since I saw Eric, and even longer than that since we had the chance to hang out, but I have to say, it really felt like no time had passed. It really felt like no time had passed. We spent most of the night recollecting old Marine memories that I had put on the upper shelf in the very back of my brain's closet. Names and faces that I hadn't thought about in quite some time came flooding back.

As great as the reminiscing was, we both came to the same conclusion: fun life, not one to do for more than 4 years. I'm not sure if that sentiment exists on similar levels in each of us, but we both remarked numerous times that it'd be hard to imagine a) coming up on our 10th year in the Marines b) serving during the "war on terror" and c) being a Gunny Sgt, doing yet another change of command or Marine Birthday Ball ceremony.

I like to think that Anya and I were good hosts to the blonde haired Viking from Minnesota. No, we didn't have time for Tex Mex, but we did take him to the Salt Lick, which I must add, is probably the tastiest BBQ I've ever had. Although, for some reason, I find it difficult to just flat out say that it's better than Marshalls. I really like Marshalls. Marshalls has good entrees, good sides, and D-LISH-US peach cobbler. But the Pecan Pie at Salt Lick was phenomenal as well, so it's a toss up.

Eric and I went out for some beers at a little pub called Dog and Duck. It's a pretty nice little place with a good selection of beers. I didn't drink in the Marines, so it was pretty cool tilting a few back with one of my really good friends.

As with all fun weekends, it ended far too soon. As Eric drove off, I hoped that it wouldn't be another four years before we got to hang out again (I'm sure it won't), but it's nice knowing that no matter how long the break is between, it's going to feel like no time has passed since we last hung out.

namaste