Keepin' Up With the Doerksens: January 2007

Loretta & Henry

Loretta and I

Loretta and Henry in Jackson Square, New Orleans

Enjoying Creole food at Acme Oyster House in New Orleans.

Cory and Henry battering coconut shrimp.

The past week we had the privilege of spending the week with Loretta and Henry - old friends of mine - who came all the way down to Pensacola to see us and volunteer with Rebuild as well. In fact, we hadn't actually spent much time together since 15 years ago. I met Loretta through Austin Christian Academy (in Manitoba) and through her met her then-boyfriend-now-husband-of-13-years Henry. At the time I was 13 or 14 and Loretta 2 years older. In those days I spent many weekends with Loretta (and consequently, Henry). Looking back, I wonder what possessed them to spend so much time with me...either I was really cool or they were really nice - or both! I know that back then I was having a blast hanging around the older, cooler crowd cruising around in a blue Chevy pick-up and blasting "Almost Paradise". But now that I'm older (and hitting 30 this year!) it was a huge complement to have them spend a week with Cory and me.

Writing all this is a little uncharasteristic of my past entries - I usually stick to cheesy one-liners. It won't happen often, so enjoy!