Today was an especially new day, in that I was able to take part in the welcoming home of a hero, a member of the national guard, and my closest childhood friend from a year of deployment in Afghanistan. I'm writing about it here because I'm just a little perplexed about the whole situation. I'm just going to diffuse my thoughts no matter how unorganized it seemse to evolve.
We used to be best friends when we were young, him and I, our moms were friends and we lived right next to each other, so naturally we hung out all the time. We played house and took care of wild birds and went swimming and saw fireworks...we did everything together. Those were the good ol' days.
Then the day came when he had to move, and ever since that day we slowly but surely started seeing each other less and less, until eventually it stopped altogether. I forgot about him and moved on with my pathetic life, all without knowing he was a budding football star at his high school, while I was barely getting the courage to show up to class.
Awhile after graduation I friended him on the ever popular Facebook, the "connector of all lost friendships" these days, and found out he was overseas! I was so happy for him that he chose to do something so honorable, and I prayed for him a lot that he would be safe and secure wherever he was. Thankfully he's home safe at this very moment.
It's something I think I'll regret--losing touch with him--because I wonder if my high school experience would've been any different. Having someone like him who was having a good time in high school, happy, and motivated might have had things pan out a lot differently for me during that time. I also know, however, that if I wasn't so...what I was in high school, I may have never met God at the full capacity that I did. So for that reason, I'm not in full regret.
I hope throughout time we'll find our way back to a good, solid friendship...'cause let's be honest, who doesn't want to be "besties" with a soldier??
