Another milestone birthday in the books, more than I care to count. It got me thinking back on a particular friendship long ago in Southern California. Her name is Kathy and one summer night in May 1977, after we off got off work, she wanted to take me to a late movie. It was 10:30 and I was tired.
“C’mon, you like westerns, it’s a new one,” pulling me by the arm. But I had to be at work by 7:00 the next morning.
“Honey, I am so tired, some other time?”
“No, we have to see this.” Her sweet stubborn streak combined with that irresistible smile, I was a goner and couldn’t refuse her anything.
We got to the theater in Costa Mesa and to tell you the truth, I spent most of the movie asleep, with my head resting on her shoulder. At the end of the movie, very excited she said,
“So did you love it?”
“Yeah, it was great.”
Laughing, she said,
“You were asleep the whole time.”
I was busted. I promised we’d see it again the following Saturday, which we did. The movie she dragged me to that night was the newly released Star Wars – A New Hope.
A few years ago, we reconnected on-line. Recently we talked and laughed about that night at the movies and discussed the possibility of meeting up after 44 years apart. But with me in Seattle and Kathy in San Diego combined with travel limitations due to our failing health, it would take some tricky planning, but definitely doable.
But just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstore sells, we reached the part where the heartaches come. And sadly, before our reunion could ever take place, just days before my birthday, my dear friend Kathy passed away.
“Friendship takes work, but it’s worth it. If you put in the effort, you’ll see the rewards of positive friends who will make your life extraordinary.”
I’ll miss you Kathy and am grateful that we resumed our friendship. Fate never permitted us to meet again. But if we did, I would have thanked you in person for setting me on my path those many years ago.
And for the rewards of a friendship that has definitely made the rest of my life . . . extraordinary.