We were within two hours driving distance to my best friend Mark’s house where he and his wife Dana, and daughter Maddie live just outside Raleigh. They have a great house, and the best thing was the upper loft room, which was huge and PERFECT for an artist studio!&
After arriving we headed out to a local micro-brewery, the Carolina Brewing Company, for a tour which Mark claims usually has only around 6 people there and free beer for an hour afterwards. A dream come true. But after arriving late we did not get to get a beer to drink during the tour, which to our dismay was more like 60 people!! AARGGGHH!! The tour lasted what seemed an eternity as we watched everyone enjoy cold beer while listening to the spiel. Not to mention it was 100º in there!! And then to try and be sly we stayed at the back when everyone moved to see the packaging explanation so as to get out and be first in line to get a beer after the tour. FOILED AGAIN! The beer was actually to be poured t the packaging area so we were now last in line :( But after what seemd an eternity again we finally got a well deserved beer. And Mark noticed that the temperature lowered several degrees just after that first delicious drink. This time we did something right, as we drank that first beer we got in line so right when we finished that one we were ready to get another. The best beer Sharon and I thought was the Octoberfest so we bought a six pack. We were now starving and the beer tasting was over so we went for lunch at…where else…a draft house!!
Eventually we did make it back home. Just in time to get ready for dinner. One of my other good friends (another “gang” member) Jeff was came over for dinner as well. It was great to hang out with them all. Their kids and our “furry” kids played and played. We need to do a “Gang” function soon. I love seeing my old friends!!!
Thanks Mark and Dana, we really appreciated the hospitality, and it was so nice to just hang out and talk. And Maddie, she is an amazingly special soul. Jeff, it was great to see you and Becky again, and you have great boys. I hope they can have a close group of friends to grow up with and enjoy life with as we all did.