Birthday Reminder

A few years back, I signed on to one of those on-line "Birthday Reminder" services. I felt it would be a good way to get dates in front of me a week or so in advance of some of my friends birthdays. I have no trouble with my close relatives, of course, it was just my friends - particularly those that lived some distance from me, and whom I might not be in touch with that often.

Until a few days ago, I enjoyed receiving these reminders. They allowed me the opportunity to remember, in some way, friends of mine on their special day. At times, I'd send them a funny card. Other times, It'd simply be one of the on-line greetings that this service provided. And, for a very few, I'd pick up the phone, and place a call.

Why I didn't enjoy receiving the last reminder is because it was for a dear friend of mine who passed away about a year and a half ago. We had known each other for some 48 years at the time of his passing, but it was only in the last 5 years of his life that we became Best Friends. We met during our freshman year in high school and, though "friendly" were not what you might call friends. As I said, that didn't really occur until he and I started working together to plan our 40th high school reunion.

Since he remained in the same state where we grew up, and I moved to the middle of the country, we were separated by miles and miles. But with the magic of the telephone and the computer, we spoke virtually daily. The bond that formed between he and I through these calls and regular visits made us as close as brothers. It wasn't just our classmates and the reunions we spoke about, it was any and every thing. We laughed, and we cried together.

His death was unexpected. I was, in fact, going to meet up with him the very next day, as we were starting the plans for our next class reunion. Obviously, it didn't happen.

The reminder I received for his birthday, which would've been on July 8th triggered again just how much I miss my friend. I sometimes can go for a couple of days without thinking of him, but never longer. I would've already sent him his birthday card. A funny one because he and I had the same sense of humor. Last year, I went ahead and sent the card I had purchased before his death to his wife. She understood. I'll call her on Wednesday just to see how she, her kids, and the grandkids he never got to meet are doing. And I hope I won't cry.

Old Fart Mike