Before I knew for a fact that Kelz was going to come with me on my vacation, I had made plans to go see Chez and Joad in Clovis. I thought for certain that Kelz would just prefer to stay at my Mom's house and sleep the whole time I was gone. Yes, I was wrong. Now, you know where this is headed: My two ex-girlfriends were going to meet face-to-face. I never thought something like this would happen to me.
I had called Chez up and gotten her new address. She kept asking me if I knew where the street was located. "I lived in Clovis for two years! I should be able to find it!" I let her know what time we expected to be there.
Kelz and I left in the morning. I don't remember much about the drive up. I know we drove around the Eastern New Mexico University campus while we were in Portales. We went to the University Theatre. Kelz got to meet Dr. R. We also visited Grandma Ogolon in Portales. Grandma showed Kelz some old photos, including early ones of her and Granddad. Kelz seemed to enjoy visiting my past.
When we got to Clovis, I had trouble finding the street where Chez lived. We kept driving around, but I couldn't locate it. After a few minutes, someone drove up beside us. It was Chez. This was the first time I'd seen her driving a car. "I said you wouldn't be able to find it! Follow me!"
We followed Chez and drove into a mobile home park. We stopped at a house and got out of our cars. Chez came up and gave me a hug. I introduced her to Kelz. Chez said she was in a bad mood because this was the day she found out her girlfriend Jyd had decided to move to Virginia with her daughter and leave Chez, Joad and her husband Kyd behind. Chez said she was so upset, she felt like driving herself under a truck.
We went inside the mobile home. Kyd and Joad were there, but Jyd wasn't. Kelz just sat on the floor and didn't say anything. The whole time, Chez and Kyd were talking about what was going on. I tried to connect with Joad, but he was being shy the whole time. I don't recall much else going on except that Jyd finally arrived. Because of this, Chez and I didn't really get to spend any time catching up. There were other things I needed to do while we were in town, so Kelz and I left.
Kelz didn't think too much of Chez, but she liked Joad and thought Kyd was cool. She didn't have anything else to say about them.
Our next order of business in Clovis was to go see my Grandma Bend. She was in town helping to take care of her sister Lod, who was basically bedridden. Kelz got to meet both of them and was actually rather pleasant the whole time. But it had to be made clear to Grandma Bend later that Kelz was not my girlfriend. We were just "friends."
(Three weeks later, Lod passed away. I wasn't able to go to the funeral, so that was the last time I got to see her.)
My final piece of business was for us to drive to Tucumcari to go see Kird. He had graduated from college and was employed as a social worker. Before we left Clovis, I tried to call him. His wife picked up the phone and said he wasn't there. He was in Clovis because they removed twin children from a domestic situation and they needed to be treated at the hospital. I told her we were in Clovis and she said that I could probably find him at the hospital.
(I didn't know this, but this would be the last time I would talk to his wife, who had been friendly with me anytime I came to visit. They later got a divorce.)
We drove to the hospital. I tried asking for information about him at the front desk, but no one knew how I could find him. Kelz and I waited around in the lobby for about 30 minutes, hoping to see if he would make some sort of appearance, but we never did see him. I guess it was just as well. If he's trying to make sure twins are getting the proper care, he wasn't going to have time for a visit. I wouldn't see Kird face to face for another 13 years. And now, eight years have passed since I last saw him in Clovis.
Kelz and I drove back to Artesia. Nothing of note happened along the way. She probably slept most of the time.
In my next post: We hit the casino!
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