Full Circle
The recent KM trip to Blackpool managed to live up to expectations. Indeed, it went far further, and the trip created its own legend. It was a momentous weekend due to many, many different reasons.
It took me back in time. At time during the weekend I forgot that it was 2010, and suddenly I was back in the glory days of 2002/3. Youth on ones side, free time, not to mention being carefree and just generally enjoying life. Of course, that's not to say that life in 2010 is all bad, it just has a habit of getting over-serious, and recent times have done nothing but remind me that times have simply changed.
Looking at the photos and realising that after all this time, we can still take whacking great big group shots of 14 people in the same frame. Yes, this is a record as far as KMers go. Not bad for a 'fading community'.
Things have changed a lot through the years, and people have comes and gone. Some fade away, some linger but are usually otherwise distracted, some find their behaviour keeps them away from the core of the group. For me, personally, I have been searching to try and find that 'buzz' again from the incredibly busy summer of 2003. It's been hard to find now that we're all doing the 'adult stuff' (steady!) these days. Trips have become less frequent and even things like generally chatting online has declined. I recall in 2003 we had roughly 6 or 7 moderately sized trips in the summertime, ranging from nights out to celebrate success, or a week-long filming trip to the fair city of London.
There has been plenty since then, of course. Florida 2008 being possibly the highest point, simply due to its scale. There have been some darker times over the years also. Arguments can spring up and some institutions that I have believed in, have failed. Even in very recent times.
However, the fact that myself, Forester, Pooka and Matt were the final four remaining KMers (in BPool) just really reminded me of how some friendships have remained throughout the years. The first four at Blackpool 2002, the final four at Blackpool 2010. A decade of friendship, and the final hour of the social just reminds me of that amazing feeling of loyalty.
And to those who are new to all of this, who have clearly been bitten by the KM social bug, it only proves how things in the future have the potential to live up to not only past expectations, but to set the bar even higher.
I love it.
It took me back in time. At time during the weekend I forgot that it was 2010, and suddenly I was back in the glory days of 2002/3. Youth on ones side, free time, not to mention being carefree and just generally enjoying life. Of course, that's not to say that life in 2010 is all bad, it just has a habit of getting over-serious, and recent times have done nothing but remind me that times have simply changed.
Looking at the photos and realising that after all this time, we can still take whacking great big group shots of 14 people in the same frame. Yes, this is a record as far as KMers go. Not bad for a 'fading community'.
Things have changed a lot through the years, and people have comes and gone. Some fade away, some linger but are usually otherwise distracted, some find their behaviour keeps them away from the core of the group. For me, personally, I have been searching to try and find that 'buzz' again from the incredibly busy summer of 2003. It's been hard to find now that we're all doing the 'adult stuff' (steady!) these days. Trips have become less frequent and even things like generally chatting online has declined. I recall in 2003 we had roughly 6 or 7 moderately sized trips in the summertime, ranging from nights out to celebrate success, or a week-long filming trip to the fair city of London.
There has been plenty since then, of course. Florida 2008 being possibly the highest point, simply due to its scale. There have been some darker times over the years also. Arguments can spring up and some institutions that I have believed in, have failed. Even in very recent times.
However, the fact that myself, Forester, Pooka and Matt were the final four remaining KMers (in BPool) just really reminded me of how some friendships have remained throughout the years. The first four at Blackpool 2002, the final four at Blackpool 2010. A decade of friendship, and the final hour of the social just reminds me of that amazing feeling of loyalty.
And to those who are new to all of this, who have clearly been bitten by the KM social bug, it only proves how things in the future have the potential to live up to not only past expectations, but to set the bar even higher.
I love it.