Tuesday I afternoon I received a telephone call. I heard a "Hey Louie!" and then "Are you up for a visit today?" It took me a minute to recognize the voice. It was one of my old friends that I grew up and got in trouble with (MDG). His family lived in the neighborhood and we all went to the same church. I said "Sure!". I had not seen him since his wife's funeral a year and a half ago.
Things sure have changed the last few years. The "gang" used to be 4 of us. MDG and AB are two years older than me and GF and I are the same age. We did and went everywhere together. Our parents knew each other and if one got in trouble, the others heard about it before we got home. This was a time without cellphones, i-Pods, e-mail or IMs....so the parent mafia was strong, we were able to get around many things. We had to use home telephones and pay telephones to communicate or actually go to the person's house.....sometimes we had to use a thing called "a letter" that you had to use actual paper and ink and mail through the post office. From Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Warriors midnight shows, the beach, boogie boarding, church retreats/conferences, trips to the "Tiki Bar" and "Monty's", hanging out in Coconut Grove and the Malls ... we were all over the city.
One year I was physically kidnapped for my birthday (with my parent's permission). They picked me up the day before my birthday, we went to Ft. Lauderdale and they refused to bring me back. The actual day of my birthday we got to the house and there was a surprise party waiting for me. I was happy and angry at the same time (I did not have a chance to shower, shave, and put on fresh clothes to make an appropriate entrance.).
We have gone through many things together...weddings, births, baptisms, birthdays, death of parents and some friends, family trouble, health issues, etc. This is at least a 35 year relationship..... We keep in touch here and there and sometimes lament the freedom of youth and how things have changed for the kids of today. Some of the kids that I Know do not understand how we can still be in contact after so many years or believe how much we did when we were younger.
MDG and I talked for about 5 hours and he stayed for dinner. My little sis came by and there was another wave of memories. While I was in college and then living in Tampa, he and the gang were my eyes, ears and her big brothers.
A lot has changed in all our lives. MDG is a widower (no kids) and now a mail carrier, AB just announced that after 17 years he is getting divorced (they have two boys age 3 and 13), and GF is doing ok but has gained about 100 pounds (he has two kids). I seem to be the keeper of information and the contact for the gang. It's a good feeling, but sometimes a little sad that we do not see each other as often as we did. It is a little difficult since we are a little spread out (locally)..... Miami, Way West Kendall, Hollywood and Boca Raton.
All of us are now taking care of aging parents and are involved in different church or community events. It's good to know that you can still keep some friendships. We are no longer the kids we were and we all have new or evolving lives. The core of the person is still there and I am glad we can still talk once in awhile.
Here's hoping that all of you have at least one friendship you cherish.
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