Good Lovin' Reunion Style

"Six degrees of separation "refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer.

Last night was a perfect example of the theory becoming reality.

When I graduated from high school in 1970 so many of us lost touch. Vietnam robbed us of good friends and many, with high school diploma in one hand and thumb extended on the other hand hitchhiked to California or took off in their VW campers. So many never looked back.

Thanks to Facebook I've been able to reconnect with many of those that were lost four decades ago. Sweet Tina , who I experienced Jimi Hendrix with as a teen, flew in to our area at 2 am from California yesterday and threw together a reunion party by 6:00 pm. With the help of her hubby, an amazing cook, she put on a beautiful spread. Tina goes down in my history book as being (always) one of the most gracious people I know.

Tina suggested I invite. Haggie Maggie even though she had never met Haggie but she knew there would a person at the get together who did. As it turns out this is where the six degrees of separation manifests itself in all of it's glory. Case in point...

In walks RED. Haggie had just been lamenting earlier in the week that her friend RED was in town playing at a local establishment and she was so sorry she had missed him. RED was her best friend in GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I take one look at RED and realize I am face to face with the red-headed freckle faced love of my life who I "DATED" in 9th grade. He was just learning how to play the guitar and was an accomplished surfer.

Tina knew Red as her "FIRST GUITAR TEACHER."

Red in turn introduced me to his wife as "MY FIRST LOVE." Turns out she's also a nurse. We traded war stories for an hour. I absolutely loved her.

Enter The Prince.

I knew The Prince from the surf shop where I hung around with Red and my friend named Blondie. Blondie, (who was also at the get together) and I haven't seen each other since 1970. 40 years ago she tried to teach me how to surf. I was hopeless. In high school, I frequently drove Blondie home careful to deposit her to her front door by 4:00 pm so she could watch the Gothic soap opera, Dark Shadow's.

The Prince was friends with both Tina and Blondie. Ironically, Haggie Maggie attended FIRST GRADE with The Prince. Blondie and Haggie Maggie also realized they had undoubtedly bumped in to each other in the late 60's while standing in line waiting to gain admission to our local hot spot, The Electric Zoo where we saw:

Shockingly, Blondie had remembered that i was the president of the Young Rascals fan club in the late 60's and that I was madly, passionately in love with the lead singer, Felix Cavaliere as a starry eyed 14 year old.

Felix then

Halfway into the party Blondie's phone rang. It was Felix Cavaliere. At first I thought it was a joke until I saw Tennessee flashing on her phone. I knew that Felix and his wife settled in Memphis. Bonnie had e-mailed Felix earlier in the week and invited him to our reunion to surprise me. Honey, I was surprised.

Felix now

Felix and I chatted about old times when he and the Rascals appeared in Tampa. He remembered the concerts there. He informed me he would have attend the "reunion" if it had not been such short notice. It's probably just has well he called instead. I may have fainted. Before we hung up he invited Blondie, me and the gang to his upcoming performance in Naples in April. The Rascals will be playing with The Lovin' Spoonful.

I was going to end this blog post with Good Lovin' but it seems this song by the Lovin' Spoonful sums the night up more accurately. Thanks Blondie, Haggie and Tina for being such wonderful friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hh-U7sScQg&feature=related

I think that may even be me in the front row with the blonde flip.