Ran into an old friend today, a real treat

[dolfan]

My friend, Hank Little, and I grew up from 3rd grade in the same general neighborhood. In high school, we became really good buddies. After that, we worked together at the same local business. He was a very close friend and we had a lot of good times together. His family was incredibly sweet. I made new friends of his friends, and it was always just a lot of fun. Not all innocent, mind you, but nothing too raucous. One of the most formative moments of my life was when Hank was around; he was a good buddy in an embarrassing and hurt-filled day involving my dad on the day we graduated from high school.

After my wife and I married and we eventually moved to Cleveland to go to TC, well, we lost touch. That was in 1990. And, he went on to become a high school teacher and administrator. We've bumped into each other a couple of times but not where we could catch up, and that was even years ago, too.

So, today, we ran into one another at the courthouse. He was getting a new license plate. We started talking about family, deaths, births, marriages, all that, catching up. It was like old times, but both of us a lot older. We wound up going to lunch together. He teared up when I told him my mother died in 2004, and he said, "I wish I knew about it. I would have come."

And, the irony with me and Hank is that he's doing what I wanted to do when we were young: teaching. When we were in high school, Hank didn't give two hoots about school. He was a social creature, and flighty as all day long. He told me today -- get this, now -- he said, "One of the biggest regrets I've had in my life is losing touch with you. I told my wife the other night, 'If it hadn't been for Tim, I would not have finished high school'."

Then, I almost teared up. It was just super getting to see him again, and I hope that we can become buddies again, wives in tow. He's got 3 kids with one newly married, so we're on opposite ends of the parenting spectrum. We shared about our journeys through church -- he's a Southern Baptist who has served as a deacon and a trustee.

All boring to y'all, I know, but for me it was just big-time happy. It isn't everyday you get a treat like this one.

Thanks, Lord, for my old friend.

[paul]

My friend, Hank Little, and I grew up from 3rd grade in the same general neighborhood. In high school, we became really good buddies. After that, we worked together at the same local business. He was a very close friend and we had a lot of good times together. His family was incredibly sweet. I made new friends of his friends, and it was always just a lot of fun. Not all innocent, mind you, but nothing too raucous. One of the most formative moments of my life was when Hank was around; he was a good buddy in an embarrassing and hurt-filled day involving my dad on the day we graduated from high school.

After my wife and I married and we eventually moved to Cleveland to go to TC, well, we lost touch. That was in 1990. And, he went on to become a high school teacher and administrator. We've bumped into each other a couple of times but not where we could catch up, and that was even years ago, too.

So, today, we ran into one another at the courthouse. He was getting a new license plate. We started talking about family, deaths, births, marriages, all that, catching up. It was like old times, but both of us a lot older. We wound up going to lunch together. He teared up when I told him my mother died in 2004, and he said, "I wish I knew about it. I would have come."

And, the irony with me and Hank is that he's doing what I wanted to do when we were young: teaching. When we were in high school, Hank didn't give two hoots about school. He was a social creature, and flighty as all day long. He told me today -- get this, now -- he said, "One of the biggest regrets I've had in my life is losing touch with you. I told my wife the other night, 'If it hadn't been for Tim, I would not have finished high school'."

Then, I almost teared up. It was just super getting to see him again, and I hope that we can become buddies again, wives in tow. He's got 3 kids with one newly married, so we're on opposite ends of the parenting spectrum. We shared about our journeys through church -- he's a Southern Baptist who has served as a deacon and a trustee.

All boring to y'all, I know, but for me it was just big-time happy. It isn't everyday you get a treat like this one.

Thanks, Lord, for my old friend.

Amazing how many lives we touch and never know. Thanks for sharing..