The months fly by or so it seems these days. It can hardly be almost three years since the last desert reunion and my poem written of this time, of our meeting in London, but it is. This coming April I plan to return to the desert once again back to the garden city of Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates. How exciting this will be after first going their 32 years ago. It will be nice to see old friends once again and to view the amazing changes made to this arid land of sun and sand. My poem of the last reunion is shown here:
Reunion – Jewels Nightclub – Piccadilly  London April 2013.
The desert came to London that Saturday in April
from far and wide from each corner of our beautiful world,
friends gathered to relive the halcyon days of heat and sand,
those dusty days and joyous lives merged together to remember
the ‘living’ we did amid the shimmering red desert of Al Ain.
Groups gathered in earnest chatter, champagne and beer flowed,
exchanges made, we peered at name badges,
we looked at faces ‘changed’- but the same – with the passing years.
How good to meet again, how good to say “hello” after all this time.
So much to mention – so much to remember…so many images to recall.
One hundred and thirty old friends converged on a London night club,
for ‘Jewels’ we all are, to reminisce we must, to reminisce we did.
For were we not the pioneers of those desert days?
For did we not help to shape the things to come?
” I knew your husband” one sweet man said
” I remember your face” said another.
We squealed with delight when across a dear friend we came,
pretty ladies exchanged their ‘gifts of words’, their memories
and their smiles…
As music from those 80’s days played loud and clear
our thoughts returned to those hot indolent days and torpid nights,
Of our treasured paradise merged with the vibrant dancing that was now.
Handsome men stood together enjoying their beers and their stories,
remembering Rugby on a stony terrain, Hash House Harriers and running through ‘najoods’ in boiling arid heat.
Oh yes! Not much was forgotten at the desert reunion, sweet memories of
twinkling nights atop Jebel Hafeet, the tastes and good smells of the “Golden Sheep”, “The Hilton” and “The Intercont”.
Cooling sun-downers at the end of a sweltering day,
the brushstrokes of these clear memories like a perfect piece of art…
Friends made in a life together under a turquoise sky, bonds made in this desert oasis that will not be broken though years pass.
Our laughter in London was an echo of past times,
still beautiful now with the changing years.
Stay well dear friends until we meet again…