I drove the couple hours from Philly to DC and bought new flip-flops and other assorted requirements. My old crew and I decided to meet up at a bar we used to frequent in Arlington, VA a few blocks from our old WPNI (Washington Post Newsweek Interactive – the digital arm of the paper that was later rolled into the Washginton Post itself) office (before we were moved to downtown DC in the WaPo headquarters).
We had a great time reminiscing and catching up. It was like no time had passed even though most of us work elsewhere now. I was beginning to call this trip “MissChatter’s Reunion Tour” as I was catching up with family and former colleagues and every visit was contributing to the healing process and rebuilding my self-confidence. If I was a terrible person and manager, then these people would not want to come out and hang with me, right?
Being a bit older and arguably wiser, we did not close down the bar or even get close to drunk. We finished our oysters and appetizers and I made my way to Pohick Bay Regional Park near Woodbridge, VA. Most state/regional parks say no alcohol allowed, so I always wonder if I’m going to get busted with a glass of wine after dark. (4 years later and so far no issues!)
