Democracy in Action: January Retrospective

In the middle of last summer, a group of old college friends, now over the age of forty, flew across the United States to a rural hunting lodge in Georgia. For three days, they stayed on the property, threw the football around, retold old stories, and played practical jokes on one another. One friend, a jack-of-all-trades, taught them how to refine their fishing skills, shoot guns, and better appreciate the outdoors. Every so often, one would sneak away to call a significant other or speak with their children. Meals were prepared together, and advance planning was kept to a minimum. Briefly free from the demands and worries of modern living, they were able to live in the moment.

For more than twenty years, this group has met in various locations across the United States. They took a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway, camped in the Rocky Mountains, and spearfished in the Florida Keys. At other times, they rented Airbnbs to explore new cities and towns. Some of their best memories come from these gatherings. On one occasion, a friend led an epic karaoke session, delivering a full-throated rendition of Meat Loaf’s “I Would Do Anything for Love” in a packed dive bar. The energy in the room rivaled that of a modern music venue. Then there are practical jokes. Once, they arranged for the police to briefly handcuff and detain a friend the day before his wedding. Another time, one friend bought a lifelike Sasquatch costume and tried to lure everyone into the woods to scare them.