to a friend

To a friend:

Until about a year ago, it had been over 40 years since we last saw each other. We were excited about life and ready to go. Life had an anticipatory tone. Nothing really was wrong, we were healthy, having a boyfriend or girlfriend was at the top of our priorities, kissing a good looking girl was an earth shaking experience.

A job was necessary, but mainly for spending on the girlfriend and some good looking clothes, gas for the car, etc.

Life in America was simple. No one much locked their houses or cars still, children for the most part did not misbehave, gas was cheap, things in general were affordable.

There was the war in Vietnam but it in general was somewhere else. Unless you knew someone in it, it really did not touch you. Of course, if you were a guy 18 years old, you were afraid of it, but more in the line of something that could happen to you, like getting hit by a car or something like that.

On a great day, our hair went right, no one was mad at us, there were no tests at school, we went on a date. Then we graduated and began life.

Forty years later, life has taken us for a ride. We bear the scars to show it. Life, for all its successes, seems to have taken on a sad tone.

You have had a brain tumor and a severely damaged foot, and your husband is sick. My wife is afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis and is in constant pain, financial problems have beset us both and my ministry is not where I want it to be. When we hugged each other to say goodbye last time we had lunch there was almost a clinging quality.

We knew each other when and I would like to think that we will meet again. I find myself loathe to not see you again, but do not know how I can, seeing as how we live far apart.

You are my oldest friend. Many were the lunches we had together in High School and many were the secrets we shared. You were even my first kiss so long ago. I do not have another friend that I have had as long as I have known you and I like you. I also pray that you have a good life and that your husband is healed and able to love you like you deserve to be loved.

And what a ride it has been. We cannot go back and take it again, no matter how we may want to, and all of the mistakes in the past are made. There are new mistakes in the future to be made and I know we probably will make them.

I just trust in the name of the Lord and serve him. He is my source and strength.

Don’t know why this came into my mind right now. No real point to it anyway, I guess. Just thinking about stuff.