update

so i got to church a little early yesterday (that's what happens when i have to have my dad drive me), and sat in an empty row with my dad. i didn't pay attention to what was going on around us; i was more paying attention to my dad reading the bulletin, and being concerned about what songs we would be singing with him there. after a bit i noticed that someone sat down down the row from us, but it wasn't someone i knew; it was some long-haired hippie in jeans and a t-shirt. someone i knew then sat down with him, and i realized that i had seen the hippie there before with that guy, but i still didn't know who the hippie was, and since he's always rows ahead of me, i had never even shaken his hand.
then the service started. and, of course, we had to have that most awful time of any church service, the greeting time. i apologized to my dad, then dutifully turned to the guy next to me. 'hi, i'm guy from college.' my jaw dropped. 'i'm...mel...' he laughed. 'this is a total coincidence. i live in a neighboring suburb, and i've found a new church home, and this is it.' i was still flabbergasted. we talked for the little bit of greeting time that was left, but didn't after the service, and i was most disappointed when i had to be a good person and sit with someone who was alone rather than sit with him and other people my age at our Christmas dinner. i got to sit at his table for a bit when people were cleaning up, so i got to hear how he was talking, and he's just as deep as i remember him.
and i think he and jeanie could easily make a great couple.