Ron and Polly

I've always known Ron and Polly Toth as two of my mother's best friends.

They are also walking contradictions.

They met in Germany while Ron was serving in the military and Polly was teaching grade school to military children. They married each other in Switzerland less than two years after meeting, but are still happily married forty years later.

They live in Utah, yet remain loyal democrats, proudly displaying Barack Obama signs on their front lawn prior to the election.

They are huge fans of the Olympics, but didn't get to experience the Games of Salt Lake City in 2002 because they were busy selling collectible Olympic pins for a temporary business that helped them retire early.

Ron is legitimately funny despite having never met a pun he didn't like and Polly is a measured, thoughtful individual who is careful to not pass judgment, yet also happens to be a backseat driver.

They are an intelligent and cultured couple with excellent judgment who nevertheless welcomed me into their home for multiple days and nights despite the fact that the last time they saw me I was fifteen years old and spending my vacation with my mother in San Antonio.

Fifteen is not a good age. You can count the number of socially redeemable fifteen-year-olds who have existed throughout history on one hand. I was not among the exceptions, and a San Antonio vacation with my mother did not exactly capture my imagination. In other words, I was not a delight to deal with.

If I had to spend a week with the fifteen-year-old version of myself that existed in that moment in time, I'm pretty sure I would punch myself in the face. Not only did Ron and Polly not punch me in the face, but nine years later they welcomed me into their home with open arms and made an extra effort to show me the city they call home.

Ron even gave me two boxes full of unopened basketball cards he had stored in his garage for nearly a decade simply because he remembered that I collected them growing up.

The best part of this project so far has been the people I have met along the way. I'm beginning to suspect that the meaning of life has something to do with the kindness, generosity, and intellectual curiosity shared by so many individuals with vastly different backgrounds, mindsets, and experiences.

That's why I'm proud that I no longer think of Ron and Polly Toth as friends of my mother.

I'm now lucky enough to think of them as friends.