THE PTSD GENERATION VIETNAM : THE BIG CHILL

The Big Chill, a 1983 American comedy-drama, was directed by Lawrence Kasden. The movie portrays a group of Baby- Boomers reunited after the death of a classmate and was filmed entirely on location in Beaufort, South Carolyn. The location and house was also used for the movie The Great Santini. The soundtrack includes ten late '60's early '70's songs and the TV show "Thirty Something" was inspired by the movie.

I sat at the bar in the Indigo Hotel in downtown Asheville contemplating my next move, adventure wise that is. I was headed north and home for the holidays. My phone began buzzing, like my head, and it was Nadine an old time friend from high school and a regular on Facebook. Her and Mike were in Asheville, so lets have drinks I said, since I was already drinking we agreed. Except, this was for the next night, dam it I thought I'll have to drink again. No-I'll have to drink again for the next three nights. Awesome!

A group of high school friends were getting together for a weekend and there I was far from home with nothing to do except party with some of the most beloved childhood friends anyone could ask for. It was a Sacrifice I assure you, but I took them up on it anyway. Bam-The Big Chill New York style.

Being from New York I have to shorten names so from here on out The Big Chill will be referred to as "TBC". OK let's proceed. Dennis and Bev, two wonderful people and hosts of the TBC, did not hesitate to embrace me with love from first moment I walked in. We were teenagers again and for a couple of hours we could say and do things that we don't normally do or say that outsiders would understand. You could say I always loved you or I never liked you and only you and of course the other person would understand.

I was the the guy behind the curtain so to speak being the surprise guest, people had a lot of questions and rightfully so. I don't usually attend such functions, well to be honest, I'm never invited.

It was fascinating to watch, look, and listen to Baby Boomers talk and deal with their world. I agreed-I disagreed-than I agreed again, we were inebriated so it was acceptable to change your mind at any point in the conversation. What I didn't expect from the evening was the journey aspect each individuals life was on and it absolutely fascinated me. Each of us crossing paths, as children and now as adults, was remarkable. We bounce around the universe, as balls of energy made up of the same substance as everything else, feeding off of each other and then come together as if the last 50 years never happened. We pick up where we left off. It's a phenomenon. But, it's a phenomenon of fun and illusion that we embrace and almost need to understand ourselves. Is it who we were or who we are today that's important, each of us has to decide.

Thank you everyone for a night to remember.

THE BIG CHILL !!!

DAM---BEAUTiFUL !