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PIZZA RACES
Friday Aug. 19, 2016
I met Bob in 12th grade, home-room, first day at Western. We played on the badminton team. The evening I met my first girlfriend Grace, he was there. He and I and his childhood buddies had a Friday night routine (when all dateless, which was often, if someone could borrow dad’s car) catching a movie, then to Royal Pizza and Spaghetti House where we’d each order an extra large pizzas, then racing to see who finished first. When I was 19 he and his girlfriend Judy set me up on my first blind--double date, on a Friday night. Wally and Chris set me up with Susan for that Saturday. When I married Susan, Bob was there. Bob at university, I was working, newly married – we drifted apart. Haven’t seen him in 45 years. I worked with Wally. Susan worked with Chris. We drifted apart too - haven’t seen them in more than 30 yrs.
I read Bob’s obituary last night.
Seems he had a marvelous life these past 45 years, cut short by a relentless cancer battle. Condolence notes – from one of his childhood friends, one of those pizza-buddies – he knew a lot, but clearly in his sadness, he’d drifted apart too.
Lessons?
Kids we played with aren’t kids anymore. They’re our age – some get sick. Some die. Some did already. I’m not suggesting we look up long lost friends (we could) – but rather, suggesting we make better and lasting connections with each new friend we make.
Another thing, we should stay in touch with friends – otherwise they’ll die one day and we won’t know … but we should.
Goodbye Bob.
written / published from Arlington, VA
morning walk:23C/73F, light breeze, sunny, as perfect a morning stroll as I could ask for – weaving through streets of big old tree canopies, dog walkers and home-renovators busy at their tasks and my back stretching out (I miss my home mattress) as I prepare for a day of museum walking
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