December 6 -- Back to School

Thursday I went back to school – happily just as a guest of Ned's. He invited me in for lunch and a tour. I was very impressed.

The school is co-educational, 9 – 12. As we walked around the campus, I got a great vibe. Ned knows the names of most of the students, as well as their interests and current activities, and he spoke with many of them as we walked the halls. They responded politely (a southern thing?) and with real enthusiasm (neither regional nor superficial). Similarly, Ned’s interactions with the teachers struck me as very positive. The school has great plans to upgrade its facilities as well as to take steps to secure its position as one of the best high schools in Houston. Ned’s excitement at being a part of this was palpable, and it was great for an old friend to witness.

(My Mini got along great with Kristin's.)

At the end of the day, Ned, Kristin and I went out to a place called the Glass Wall. It had a trendy environment and food that was not quite as good as one might hope in such an urbane-seeming place. That was of no importance, however, because this was the dinner where I really got to catch up with Ned and Kristin. All three of us had recent job changes to discuss, and they had a move as well. As usual, it felt like we didn’t have enough time. As usual, it was a great time.

We chose a nice wine, a 2004 Meeker Handprint Merlot. Not only was it delicious, but it also came in the most beautiful bottle I've ever seen. It was a standard green or brown red wine bottle, but it looked as if an artist preparing a flamboyantly colored oil painting had dabbed his or her brush on it from time to time (ours had brighter colors than the one pictured). Cool.

When we got home Kristin made us a fabulous, locally-devised brandy freeze milkshake as dessert. Although there are a million more important reasons why I’ll return to Houston, I’d do it just for another one of those!