It was touch and go for awhile but Eddie managed to make it back to Piney Point after our visit to France. However, he was very close to taking up a new life in the South of France where I had planned to leave him.
Whenever I travel, I always leave behind clothing items that have seen their better days. I pack these items, tote them around the world, wear them a last time or two and then leave them in some closet somewhere for the cleaning crew to dispose of as they will. If we are travelling with friends, Pam is quick to point this out to them in case they are wondering why I am bopping around sporting such raggedy looking apparel.
My Eddie T-shirt was frayed and faded and had descended the clothing chain to pajama status. I have a surplus of t-shirts to begin with and an even bigger stash of what I call pajama status t-shirts.
Thus, Eddie was earmarked to be left in Cavalaire-sur-Mer which I thought was an appropriate place to leave him. While Cavalaire does not have any surfing, it is a beach town where I figured Eddie would fit right in. (Pun intended. What’s the saying, the louder the groan, the better the pun.)
However, as I folded and readied Eddie for his desertion spot on the Cavalaire closet shelf, I happened to notice something on the sleeve as follows:
Quicksilver sponsors what they now call the Big Wave Invitational and what everybody else calls The Eddie. The 2006-2007 inscription caught my eye and reminded me of being in Hawaii around that time. I knew then, that Eddie had to stay with me for sentimental purposes.
As I shoved him into my suitcase Pam asked me “I thought you were leaving that one. Why are packing it?” All I said was “Eddie would go.” Not getting my reference, Pam just shook her head and said, “You’re too much.”
Reminded me of the line “She thinks I’m crazy, but I’m just growing old.” (In memory of Walter Becker who died yesterday at the age of 67 the year mentioned in the first line of their following song. Ever think you’d be saying “Man, that’s young?”)