My dad and his brother get in disagreements from time to time about how things went in their childhood, and I never quite understood what the big deal was until tonight. Out of the blue, I got a call from two childhood friends (pre-high school, folks), who both happened to be in Houston at the same time I was. What are the odds?

It turns out Trent (he’s the one from across the street) has a better memory than I do. My friends from UNO know how good my memory is for inane and worthless details… but I have to say Trent had me outmatched from the beginning. I remembered the fun times with the Nerf bow & arrow… I don’t remember suggesting that I would be the buffalo for whatever game we were playing. I think Trent was lying. =P

But he did recall the bird that my family used to have when I was in grade school. I think his name was Tinker. Did I name him? Probably. Go me. Trent remembered the day that Tinker died (the day I took him to show and tell… my bad…) he started rocking crazily on his swing at the top of his cage, chirping wildly. He then took the long dive to the bottom of the cage. Trent (and his impeccable memory for quotes) recalled that I said, “Well, he’s a goner.” I guess I’ve always had a keen eye for the obvious.

On a closing note, it’s spooky how much information is available online for those who seek it. Jonn (the other friend from childhood) knew I was in Houston from my dad’s blog, and got my cell phone # off of my Facebook profile so he could call me. What good detective work!