Comments on: Lost a boyhood friend today

By: Jody

Jody — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:31:02 +0000

I am just like you Frank. I am a hermit. I am forced to be out and about when I pick up my granddaughter from school. Damnit..I am forced to be lovable and social .

Apryl is 31. We have talked for over a year now. It is a slow and steady friendship that it is completely new to me. She doesn’t need me to *fix* anything. She is smart, dry wit, devoted to her daughter, been through the pitches of hell, self actualizing, spiritual.I deserve a friend like this.

By: FrankC

FrankC — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:26:54 +0000

women have a better knack for forming later life same sex friendships.

When we are kids we move next door to someone and before the sunset we have a new best friend.

I haven’t made many real life male friends in the last 20 years and I don’t think that is just me.

By: podrock

podrock — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:27:35 +0000

My best man (and I his) has been a friend since the fifth grade. We don’t talk enough. I should give him a call.

By: Jody

Jody — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:54:25 +0000

I have a friend that has that potential if I allow it.

By: FrankC

FrankC — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:05:10 +0000

Thanks Bowser, George was that guy. No one near like him is left.

By: bowser

bowser — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:38:50 +0000

Frank, I had no worries along these lines. I was going to die first and early. I knew it and didn’t give it much thought. It was just a fact, Probably going to be fast and painless, nothing to worry about.

I knew that was the easy way, the folks remaining have the tougher time. And while I recognized how precious each close friend was, I wasn’t appreciative enough.

Well, God has a way of teaching us. I’ve outlived pretty much everyone. Except my best childhood friend. Met in High School, I was best man at his wedding, he at mine. We’ve argued, split for a while, always reconciled. Last serious fight was over some mutually controlled property a couple of months ago. Serious problems. Just a couple of months ago. And I got scared. After 56 years of friendship.

After losing several nights sleep over it I told him I loved him, nothing was going to get in the way, I’d sign anything he put in front of me, “I might think you are being a greedy bastard but I’ll never call you one”.

He, in turn, was cautiously vulnerable, and we’ve seemed to patch it up.

His step-daughter, when asked by her boyfriend who this “Bowser” was he kept hearing about, said, “Bowser is Ken’s heterosexual soul mate.”

And he’s about all that’s significant that’s left.

I know that’s all about me, but it’s my way of saying I can relate to your loss and I’m sorry. As we get older that seems to be the lot of those of us “lucky” enough keep going. I’m sure you know his family needs you, now.

By: FrankC

FrankC — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:16:42 +0000

I am looking forward to the wake next Saturday and I plan on taking a designated driver. My semi-hermit lifestyle has gotten me out of practice in the drinking department and 2-3 shots of scotch will have me spilling my guts and crying like a little girl.

By: MaryAnne

MaryAnne — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:27:00 +0000

Friends like that are rare indeed.

His voice will stay with you.

By: SteveS

SteveS — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:34:15 +0000

I lost a childhood friend last October. A few years younger than me and both he and his wife of 29 years grew up together and I was the best man at their wedding.

I’m lucky to still have one of those friends who can be trusted without compromise.

By: Jody

Jody — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:06:44 +0000

I lost a childhood friend 8 months ago. Sue and I reticently faced the charging upper classmen together in seventh grade. 1967.