Monday 22nd July 2013
Time is a funny old thing. The act of being re-united with someone reminds you just how long it’s been since you last saw them, yet as soon as you embrace them, it is as if no time has passed at all. That’s how it felt when I saw my friend Vinnie on Monday, for the first time in six years.
Vinnie and I met at the Angel Therapy Certification course in 2007. I was 21 and my mum had paid for us to attend the course in Laguna Beach, California, as a 21st birthday gift to me. By the first few days of the fortnight-long course, people had begun to gravitate towards others who were on their ‘wavelength’, who would become friends, who would share the experience together. Vinnie and his friend Andre, my mother, and I, gravitated towards each other. Out of 150 students on the course, there were only 10 men. My mum and I were lucky to become friends with the best of them.
In the six years since I met Vinnie, it never crossed my mind that we might, one day be re-united. My trip to California back in 2007 seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I often revisited my photographs and memories of the time that my mum and I spent with Vinnie.
Vinnie, me, Mum in ’07.
He is one of the most generous and kindhearted people I have ever met, not just with material possessions, but in the way that he gives of himself. He is a person who listens rather than waiting for his turn to speak, he is a person who spontaneously thinks of ways to make the lives of others more pleasant, and he is someone who makes people feel that their thoughts and opinions matter- that they matter.
If you have someone like my friend Vinnie in your life, you are very lucky. If you are someone like my friend Vinnie then good job- you’re doing it right.
On Monday Vinnie came to the apartment at 9am to pick us up and take us for breakfast. He stepped out of the car, and in six years, he hadn’t changed a bit! We chatted about our time since ’07, discussing things both uplifting and saddening, personal and professional. Neither Gabe nor I drive and San Diego is huge, so Vinnie’s car was a welcome carriage that allowed us to venture outside of Ocean Beach (with air conditioning!).
After 45 minutes, we pulled up next to Kono’s– a famous breakfast spot at Pacific Beach, known for hot food, hot coffee, big portions and cheap prices. The lines are always round the block so if yu’re visiting, expect to wait, but it’s worth it! After standing in line and chatting, we ordered. I had the most delicious french toast that was all buttery, sugary and cinnamon-y with bacon and freshly squeezed OJ, and it was delightful. We sat at the open-air end of the restaurant and watched the most beautiful blue-eyed wolf-like dog drinking out of a tiny cup of water whilst her owner sat besde us and ate. We finished up, and headed back to the car and back to OB.
It was so great to catch up with Vinnie. Gabe and I agreed that he should definitely come and visit us in Glasgow in the near future.
We will see Vinnie again whilst we are here. There was talk of Disneyland California and a day trip to LA, so stay tuned for those adventures!
Come and say hello over at:
Sun, Spirit and San Diego 