Recently I chatted with Lisa, a dear friend for nearly thirty years. Prompted by news of early snow across the country and our own cold weather, she made one simple comment that unleashed many fond memories.
“This reminds me of the Bamboo day”.
With a smile I recalled enjoying that day too – but, I don’t remember why…
Even the date of that winter day years ago escapes me. Snow fell as I drove to work and in spite of accumulation, not a single business closed. I walked into work slowly, waiting, stalling, watching thousands of flaky excuses to stay home fall for nothing. I was sure the security guard would meet me at the door to say we were closed. He didn’t and we weren’t.
Until later.
Memory also fails me as to the exact time later that morning that my boss announced our closing. As I left, swirling snow began to cover my car. While I scraped ice from my windshield I pondered the falling flakes, and then did what anyone else would do when dismissed early from work due to heavy, dangerous snowfall.
I met two friends at a local café.
Where Lisa worked at the time I don’t recall, but she left work early too. I don’t remember where Billy worked either but his office closed also. Filled with the thrill of snow and early closure, the three of us met at Bamboo Café, a cozy little place in our hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The snow kept falling.
We chose a booth towards the back, I think, but I draw a blank. Maybe we talked about mutual friends – which ones, I can’t remember. We probably talked about relatives – though I’m clueless as to what was said. What we ate slips my mind but I think there was coffee. I know there was laughter.
For hours, who knows how many, we watched snow fall and enjoyed our impromptu time together. We drifted from casual comments about work to heavy political discussions, reminisced about past vacations, then around again to whatever our personal dramas were at the time. We most likely shared reflections, bounced ideas, told dirty jokes, and laughed at sporadic flashbacks.
I don’t know why we always remember the Bamboo day. Why is it still so memorable? It was an unremarkable day really. Just three people huddled in a booth watching snow fall as they talked, laughed, and spent a surprise few hours basking in the gladness of old friendship. Oh…
Now I remember why.
Stuart M. Perkins
Storyshucker 
Memory is a funny thing. Like shards of broken glass across the floors of our mind sometimes it readily obeys our attempts to sweep it up to recollection. At other times it resists our best efforts to make it return until it jabs us in the foot drawing blood.
I loved this. Thanks for sharing.
I like your writing it’s like professional haha.
You can’t remember one of the dirty jokes? 😁
Haha! I laughed at that one!
This is why I love winter. It gives us an excuse to spend time with those close to us. In the summer we allow ourselves to get so busy that we can easily push what is really important away – our relationships! Thanks for sharing!
Whenever a snow day happens, it feels like a gift. I can remember waking up one morning when I was in elementary school and seeing all the snow covering everything outside my window and still falling, the soft barrage of flakes coming on strong, and finding out from my mother that I didn’t have to go to school. I celebrated by watching TV all day. I must say you spent your time a lot more wisely, as I can’t remember a damned thing about the rest of the day. Thanks a lot for liking my blog post.
As you shared about the time spent at the cafe, the TV series Friends came to mind. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ah, your post reminds me of a similar time 30 odd years ago. We HAD to get to the “White Bear” to say our goodbyes to a graduate who was going back home.
As we drove towards the very remote pub it started to snow, and in these parts it almost never snows.
A snow-plough come gritter lorry tried to block our way, and the driver did his best to make us turn back.
We kept going. All who agreed made it, and 14 of us had the entire pub to ourselves (apart from the staff).
What’s more we all got home safely.
Your post is a great reminder!
Thanks for stopping by and following. I’ve been reading several of your posts. So touching and funny and real. “Basking in the gladness of old friendship” say so much. Great blog.
I like how
there was coffee
there was laughter
and with Lisa, Billy
laughter. Certainly,
snow could fall
with dirty jokes, and
the gladness of old friendship
Bamboo day seems so jolly.
Love it!
Beautiful 🙂
this is so amazing. Glad I could read this. Thank you for stopping by on my blog. It wouldn’t have been possible without that. Cheers !!
Your essays are so good! Do you draft and revise, let it sit for months, reflect on your work and revise before you publish???!!! So neat and organised, interesting too! Thanks for following my blog, what an honor 🙂
Thanks, and although I SHOULD revise, let it sit, etc., I tend to write my blog posts during lunch hour at work. I definitely try to get it “right”, but the excitement I get from posting something new sometimes makes me forget to polish it as much as I should… so I hit the publish button as soon as possible. Writing is fun, that’s the important part, not how close I get to perfection. Thanks again!
Astounding! Keep up the great work 😀
Thank you Stuart for visiting my blog and alerting me to yours – I loved this story of friends and look forward to reading more!
I like all your stories, They have an insightful message,and they are enjoyable
I really love your blogs.
I appreciate that encouragement, believe me! Thanks again.
SOMETIMES THE “WHY” IS OVERLOOKED WHEN IT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR FACE. GLAD YOU FOUND THE WHY IN THIS STORY. AS USUAL IT IS GREAT!!!
I love it
Thanks!
What a wonderful memory . A good day spent with good friends, is a memory that can warm your heart for years.