In the 80s, Raleigh had a strong punk scene, and Sadlacks was one of the big hangouts. It was a small sandwich shop that sold cheap beer and had a bunch of outdoor tables, along with a small counter inside. It's across the street from NC State, but I the crowd was mostly just people our age (20s) that lived in the area.
As we aged, the crowd grew older. Rather than outgrowing the scene, it changed. Still, most of us drifted off into other things, dropping in occasionally, while others stayed regulars.
Kurt played there last night, and a bunch of old friends showed up. Many of us went to college together, and others were people we have known for years. It's nice to be part of something like that. We talked about old times and new, and Kendra came with me. It think it was a chance for her to see, as an adult, who her parents were at her age.
Get-togethers like this make me wish we hadn't moved, until I remember that this came together because Kurt was playing, and we were visiting from out of town. Sad as it is, it seems like the old crowds mostly get together when someone dies. There are a few enduring traditions, such as a Thursday night poker game that has been going on for about 30 years, but mostly, we move on.
But for one evening, it was nice to be part of the old crowd, and good to belong.
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