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By Mark Jones The year was 1994, 95 or 96 (Sorry, the mid to late 90's are kind of a blur) and I was returning to Iowa City to finish school. Upon my arrival, I knew I could depend on my good friends (Bainbridge, Roberson, Caughron, etc.) to hook me up with suitable living arrangements. Sure enough, I secured my room at the now legendary Filthy House and met my new roommate who I then knew only by name. Judd welcomed Abbie (my toothless 16yr. old vicious cocker spaniel) and I into his residence without hesitation and we soon became good friends. The days at the Filthy were short, often starting well into the afternoon, and the nights were long, often starting well into the afternoon (now that I think about it, I'm not sure there were days at all) and Judd and I made the most of them. With our mind at ease (and our minds were always at ease) Judd and I would sit for long hours and discuss the worldly topics of the day. We shared many a Winston (or a Bronson accordingly) during these long discussions (In fact when I breath really, really deeply, I can still feel the smoke in my lungs today. I bet Judd can too) and thought my mind is a little fuzzy, I'm sure we solved many of the world's problems (Had we only thought to write them down (Doogh)). Yes, those were good times spent at the Filthy, but true friendship is built not during the good times but rather when the wind blows sour. Though I don't want to go into great detail (for obvious reasons ), a minor medical issue brought Judd and I even closer together, literally. I found myself under the knife for a minor surgery on my ass and true to form, when I needed help the most Judd was there. Judd packed my ass real good for 18 days straight! Alright, I might be exaggerating a little bit. To be clear, Judd never packed my ass (the nice nurses from the U of I Hospitals got that glory). But he did say that if I needed him to, he would and I believed him. No other person in this great big world of ours has ever offered to pack my ass! Judd's friendship holds no boundaries. On that note, I'll jump to the day's of AA (After Angie). I first met Miss Thompson one night at the Airliner. My (and your) friend Derrick and I decided to take a little adventure and Angie decided to be our travel guide. I don't remember much, but I do remember that it was cold, X-tremely cold, and we decided to walk the streets of I.C anyway. We did not have a destination but luckily we had an X-cellent navigator who took X-tremely good care of us. Miss Angie went out walk'n with two yahoos out of their minds. She said she just wanted to make sure we were safe and that we made it home alright. We walked all over hell and earth that night and though I don't remember specifics, I do remember thinking Angie was about as cool as anyone I had ever met. We've hung out many many times after that first faithful trip and Angie, true to her form, still is as cool as anyone I have ever met! A few weeks later, Judd and Angie started a little trip of their own and the rest, as the say, is history. I can't say that I miss The Filthy House, but I definitely miss the people I knew there. Friends come and go in our lives, but true friendship lasts forever. I am extremely lucky to have spent time with Judd and Angie both before and after they became a couple. I wish you both heath and happiness as you begin the next leg of your trip! MJ |