The Old Gang

Neon Memes • Even on a cold evening in a cold week in a cold month in (all other things being equal) a cold year, old friends provide warmth. For that reason, I hit Clayton yesterday to meet Noreen Cahill, Wally Flick and Kathleen ("K.C.") Parvis. Once upon a time, we four toiled at the local office of the Big Four accounting firm of Ernst & Young. Nowadays, though, Noreen works at Summit Strategies Group, Wally at Aon Risk Services and K.C. at Saint Louis University School of Law. At Noreen's invitation, we convened at Summit's HQ (8182 Maryland Avenue, 314.727.7211), which boasts a lovely employee rec room with a sweet billiards table and a balcony bigger than my bungalow. (My compliments to Summit's management, by the way.) For the next few hours, mostly with laughter, we talked about "the old times" and about other topics: politics, the economy, education, sex, children. (Memo to Self: Procreate. Not!) The Welch poet George Herbert once observed, "The best mirror is an old friend." If so, after passing Wednesday evening with Noreen, Wally and K.C., I do believe I looked far less careworn, stood somewhat taller and flashed fewer gray hairs. ―Bryan A. Hollerbach, Managing Editor