Reunited

From the 6th grade through most of my high school days, I had a best friend named Paul. Sometime during high school, he moved from Tacoma to Everett with his parents and we slowly drifted apart, but I would visit him occasionally and we talked on the phone often. A year after we graduated, I got a call that he was getting married and he wanted me in the wedding party. Here's where things go awry. I was (and in some ways still am) a momma's boy and Mom didn't like the idea of me driving from Tacoma to Everett so she managed to talked me out of it and I told my best friend in all the world that I wouldn't be there on the most important day of his life. We would talk on occasion after his wedding, but eventually we lost contact.

Throughout the years, I've tried to get back in contact with Paul, but every time I get close to finding his phone number, it would cost money and usually quite a bit. It may sound cheap of me, but all I wanted was a phone number and didn't think that I should have to pay $50 or more for what should be free information. So, every once in a while, I would try only to be blocked by large fees. Looking back, maybe I should have just coughed up the dough.

Yesterday, I decided to try again and got a lot more information than previous attempts, just no phone number. I really felt compelled to find him this time around, mainly to let him know about my Dad's passing since he knew my parents so very well. Then, I remembered his Dad's name and got a phone number! I jotted the number and called. His Mom answered and soon we were reminiscing about days gone by almost 20 years past. She graciously gave me her Son's phone number and after a couple minutes of crying with joy, yet fearful of what I would say and what he would say, I called. He was taking a nap. So, I left my name and number and hoped and prayed he would call back.

He did.

We must have talked for almost 3 hours, catching up on things and remembering embarrassing times we shared. Halfway through the conversation, I brought up the wedding and gave him a long-overdue apology. He told me that he hadn't thought of that in years and though he was mad at me, and rightfully so, for a long time, he was over it and told me not to hold onto regrets. For the first time in almost 20 years, I've felt like a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. My heart feels less heavy now.

We've made tentative plans to see each other during the summer sometime after baseball season is over (he coaches for one of his sons) when they'll be less busy. I'm really looking forward to seeing him after all these years and meeting his family. Since he live near his parents and sisters, I'll get to see them again too.

I'd like to think my Dad had a hand in getting my friend and I back together again. If it weren't for him passing away, I wouldn't have felt the need to contact Paul again after all these years. Granted, I would still like my Dad to be around. I miss him terribly so. But, I am glad to finally be reunited with the best friend I've ever had, not counting my wife of course - that's different. Thanks, Dad. It's nice to know you're still looking out for me.