Karl's Friend
After high school in Los Angeles, I moved around a bit, briefly living in Saint Paul, then San Diego, then San Antonio, then back to Saint Paul. At one of my first "big" professional jobs, working at Honeywell - where my father had worked - I met Ranjit. He and I were in the same department as programmers and project developers. We both had a love of international films and started going to every film festival we could do. We meet regularly to enjoy curry, wine, and international films. Ranjit has been an active and supportive friend for many years. Although neither one of us still work together, we keep in active contact. Making friends as an adult can be tough, but Ranjit has been a steady and true friend that is eager with conversation and insight. If you get a chance to meet him, ask about his experiences in India. You may get the itch to go there.
Karl's Friend
I met Samantha (Sammi) in college at the University of Minnesota. Remember, my journey to college didn't start until I was in my 40's. Sammi's path was more typical. Early into my time at the U, I kept having this one young woman in all his classes. Same courses, same schedule. And they were almost always seated at the same table. As Sammi is inclined to say, "it's almost like we were supposed to become friends." And indeed they did. Sammi wouldn't let me be alienated or feel alone because of my age. She ensured that I was included and welcomed among much younger students (than myself). It was helpful that we have a similar sense of self-deprecating and sarcastic humor, have lived similar experiences, and share similar goals. We looked out for one another in college. I learned that Sammi can sometimes be a bit clumsy, so I came prepared with paper towels ready in case she spilled her coffee. And Sammi was always ready to be my group or lab partner. Sammi may also say that I was an inspiration to her for my willingness to try new things. When we both graduated we thought that was it - that we'd go our separate ways. Unbeknownst to each other, we took a gap year before enrolling in the same graduate program. Through difficult coursework we held each other accountable and were always ready with a shoulder to lean on. As Sammi said, it's as if we're were meant to be friends.
Jennifer's Posse
Andrea and I became friends while attending UND, and that friendship has truly altered the course of my life – changing college plans, moving across the Midwest twice, and getting my (our) first cats. In the university computer lab, we started playing a MUD (multi-user dungeon). Think something like World of Warcraft, but back then it was all text-based – all typed out on the screen of a DOS computer (kids, look it up). Late nights MUDding introduced us to lifelong friends and spurred us to move to Champaign, IL. After a few months working in the real world, Andrea decided upon a new path, and moved to the Twin Cities to pursue a theater degree. The fates intervened, and I also moved to the Cities with the kitties we adopted in IL. Over the years, she has tried to keep me cultured with live theater, and we have shared interesting road trips, adventures, and family events; a few stints as roommates; and loves of cats, sci-fi/fantasy, Tom & Doug, and sushi. Andrea was also my first friend to meet Karl and give her OK (at a New Year’s Eve dance). I’m glad he made the cut!
Jennifer's Posse
Kim and I became friends at work many years ago, and her friendship has also changed my life course and directly led to new interests and dozens of friends I would otherwise not have had. For many years, we played in volleyball leagues together, often becoming seasonal regulars in nearby establishments. I didn’t go out much, so a lot of my socializing in those years was because of her. We even went on a couple of Caribbean vacations with some of our teammates, one of which Karl joined us on just a few months after I met him. Also because of Kim, I can say that I’ve seen a Neil Diamond cover band at least twice, as well as Neil himself, and that I knew the name of any Twins baseball player in the 2000s (don’t ask me to name any now!). It was through Kim that I got into Team in Training and triathlons, which were a big part of my and Karl’s lives for nearly a decade, and where Karl and I met many new and dear friends. Though we haven’t worked together in years, we still stay in touch and meet for Thai food as often as we can, which will hopefully be easier when she returns to the heart of the Cities from the outer rings!
Officiant
Jennifer and Andrea met Doug through the MUD, back when they were naïve and trusted people on the internet. It's a good thing, though because he let Jennifer crash on his couch for a month while she found an apartment in the Twin Cities (which then just happened to be at the end of his block). Doug is, of course, one half of Tom & Doug, which deserve much more explanation than fits, so you can read about them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Doug or here: https://www.tomanddoug.com/APWwebPageLaptop.html. Doug got Jennifer started in Aikido, which she has been practicing for 30 years this June, and where she has made many enduring friendships as well as learned how to throw some really big dudes across the mat. He said, "Put on some sweatpants, we're going to class," which she did, and it never occurred to her to stop going. Additionally, Doug was directly responsible for connecting Jennifer with a job opening at ANA, where she met Kim and other friends over 17 years there. Also, after witnessing the looong quest for his PhD, he turned her off child psychology as a degree, thus sealing the deal for a history major when she went back to school at the U of MN. Doug is a Zen Buddhist monk and meditation teacher, as well as an award-winning research scientist, educator, author, and Distinguished Professor of psychology. He has a pretty impressive resume, but we liked him before he was cool.