Five Friends...

It was 1998...we took a road trip...ending up in New Orleans...during which Mardi Gras was going on...we got there on Friday night & things were exploding...in more ways than one...after a 10 hour car ride...multiple stops at hole in the wall places so we could use the bathroom...a stop at a park so we could roll down the big hill & then itch for the remaining time while in the car...a couple of food stops...a brief stop at a record store where we stocked up on cds from our childhood...we were in a good mood...the 5 of us...in a really good mood...excited about finally being able to get out of the car longer than 20 minutes...when we left home our destination was unknown...though after a stop for gas & reading a poster in the window...we were New Orleans bound...five friends out looking for a good time...forget that we needed to be back home for work on Monday...forget picking up the phone & letting our parents know where we were...we had graduated the past summer & thought we were free...adults so to speak...we could do whatever we felt like doing & no one was going to interfere with that...we saw some weird things...met some crazy people...wished we had lots more money...stayed in a hotel that cost too much...ate food that we couldn't pronounce...walked the streets like we didn't have a care in the world...talked about our dreams & what we wanted for ourselves...drank a little too much...ended up not going home until Wednesday...after which we all lost our jobs because we thought Fat Tuesday was more important...than calling into work making up an excuse why we were going to miss three straight days of work...even though we lost our jobs...we made memories that lasted a lifetime...today I got a phone call from one of those friends...said they went down for Mardi Gras this year...I've not talked to this friend in 3 years...though he called to tell me that he had a much better time ten years ago...when we all were care free & had life by the balls...he mentioned how things have changed...how life has been a little cruel to him & he would give anything for it to be 1998 again...I just laughed a little...listened to him talk...after the call had ended...I thought back to 1998...yes it was a fun time & yes I'll remember things that happened on that road trip for the rest of my life...but no way in hell do I wish I could go back...I've also been through a lot of things...both good & bad...there's nothing inside of me that wishes I was that age again...nothing at all...like I told him...we've got to find new interesting people to take more trips with...to make more memories...rather than living in the past to the point that all you want to do is go back...I think that's sad.