Yesterday earlier in the day I wasn’t feeling so good, but as the day wore on I felt better and better. To some extent that is my norm, but yesterday was different. I had an edge of excitement looking forward to the evening.
Back in my high school days and for about 5 or 6 years after were what I call my party hearty days. Man, did we ever party had the time of our lives. In grade 10 a group of 5 of us guys started to hang out and party together. Our idea of a party definately included alcohol but never drugs or anything else. We never got into or caused any trouble, it never affected our school or work after. We were young and just having a good time.
A friendship, a bond was formed between us that would last a life time. We maintained close contact for, I suppose, about 10 years. We attended each others weddings and the friendship carried on. Somewhere along the line, life moved on and gradually our contact became less and less until it stopped all together. Growing families, work all sort of things in life seemed to take more and more of our time and gradually contact ended all together. Work transfers took place, changes of jobs all sort of things, to the point we didn’t even know where the others were living. When contact is lost does that mean a friendship is lost?
Last week I had a very pleasant surprise a phone call from Bill D.. Bill is one of those close friends, it was really nice chatting with him. He had actually tracked down Les and Don, with myself that was 4 of the 5 friends. Canada is such a big country and Mike the 5th friend, we have no ideas where he is.
In any event we set a plan to meet here last night. 4 of the 5 were together. We all slipped right back into the friendship roles it was as if only days instead of years had passed since we last saw each other. We talked, it almost seemed as if we were teenagers again. We all got caught up on each others lives. I learned for the first time of Les’s tragic loss of his young son while awaiting a heart transplant. Of Don’s operation to have a brain tumor removed. None of us knew of some of the major tragic events that had happened in the lives of the others. So yes, there were a few sad moments, very touching, very moving. I think the individual moment I will remember the most is a comment made by Bill. He acknowledged Les as being “the man”. Bill said, that while we have all had our individual challenges, there was nothing that could compare to what Les had faced withthe tragic loss of his son. He spoke of his admiration for the courage and strength, Les display then and still is showing. I could not agree more, Les you are, THE MAN.
This still didn’t take away from the overall happiness or joy of the evening. Just visiting, being together again.
I thank Bill, Les and Don for sharing the good times years ago and for bringing them back to me last evening.
I would encourage all, if you have lost contact with a special friend get in touch with them ASAP. I think you will find, only the contact has been lost and not the friendship
January 17, 2007 at 9:57 pm |
Last night was a hard one for me I was worried sick about you. Here you were having a great time. I never met anyone like you Bill always so positive no matter what life throws at you. I only wish I could be more like you. I am so glad you got to see your old friends I to have friendships like that thanks for reminding me. Sometimes I get so wraped up in my own things I forget about those friendships.
Allison
January 17, 2007 at 10:02 pm |
Well Sir, I’d hate to hear you say you’re dying. I’d rather call you nearing the end of your journey – one that I can see was filled with good memories. Your tale of friendship is inspiring, one that I never had and perhaps will never have. Anyway, good luck and enjoy the ride. Cheers!
January 17, 2007 at 10:09 pm |
Thank you for this site…. your writing is a gift to all of us. A few months ago, our phone rang and it was a friend we hadn’t seen or talked to in 25 years. 25 years!! He wanted to see us again, and when we did meet it was like we had always kept in touch. Lots of changes, but still the same friendship! It was wonderful! Thank you again for continuing to share your life with us.
January 17, 2007 at 10:31 pm |
Hi Allison, I am so sorry you are worrying. Please don’t I am fine. We all have the things in life that we have to deal with. I know you have had your share and have always come through them with that beautiful smile on your face.
I really enjoyed the time we spent working together in Thompson some of my very best memories are from that time. I want you to be happy always.. So please stop worrying, I know easy to say but at times hard to do. But rest easy, I am fine and want nothing but the best for you.
Any plans on visiting Winnipeg in the near future.
January 18, 2007 at 2:32 am |
Hello Bill!
Thanks for the message about friendship. I sure was glad that you had a good time last night with “the boys”. Isn’t it always refreshing to rekindle relationships that time and distance have interrupted? I suspect that it’s true: friends are people who know all about you and still like you.
Peace, Friend!
Irene
January 18, 2007 at 3:23 am |
friends are very important, and it’s awesome to be able to find them again after such a long time! I guess I’m too young to have lost contact with some of the best friends I’ve ever had.. but if I ever do, I’ll be sure to remember your good advice!
January 18, 2007 at 5:50 am |
Message received, Bill. And thank you.
There’s some people in my life that I owe a debt of gratitude to. In their lifetime–they’re due to hear it.
And I’d agree on Les being The MAN!
I can’t imagine–though I’ve had to imagine and didn’t like that much.
I’m glad you had a standup time of it with the ‘guys’.
January 18, 2007 at 8:42 am |
It sounds like you had a great time with the guys, Bill.
I’m glad you got to meet up with them and spend some time together.
January 18, 2007 at 8:54 am |
Bill, your words are very timely for me tonight. Until just before Christmas, I had not spoken to my childhood (age 8 to 14) best friend since I was about 23. That’s 20 years. But I tracked her down and now we are emailing and catching up like we’d only missed one year, not twenty.
Then recently I decided on gut impulse to write a letter to a woman who used to be my best friend (age 15 to 40) but with whom I had a rift. I never stopped loving her, just knew we had to sort some things out before we could come back together one day as friends.
Tonight she called and we talked again. It feels good, clean, loving.
This is my year of coming full circle.
Everything happens for a reason, including my finding your blog.
Kelly
January 19, 2007 at 8:24 pm |
It’s so true, but I’d never quite heard it put that way before–that although we might lose contact, we don’t lose the friendship. And those are the best kinds of friends…the kind where we can pick up right where we left off…and feel like teenagers again. Thanks for your inspiring words. Glad you had such a good visit with your old buddies.