Different Paths

I remember around this time of year perhaps 40 or more years ago, I was in town to visit my folks.  I stopped at a convenience store and saw an old school mate.  We went in for a cup of coffee and to catch up.  Not long after graduation, he received his notice to report and took a different path than I.  He went to the far White North rather than enter the service.

My chosen path led me to a far and distant land for a number of tours.

We spent some time talking about our lives and at the end of the meeting, as we were ready to part, I told him that for many years I did not know how I felt about his choice.  I pulled him in for a hug and told him I was glad he made the choice he did.  He told me he was happy that I made it home, I laughed and said that some of me came home.

Bill, if you're still with us, I wish you much happiness, health and most of all -

Peace

Thank you for your service, Deane. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Almost every one has a facebook page so have you try to contact your friend that way or through his parents?

When I get bored I sometimes use facebook to find out how my friends are doing ....

J. R. R. Tolkien wrote:It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to

Sometimes it is interesting to think what might have been if we took a different road. I'm not in contact with many of my former friends from my schooldays (one from primary school - Hi Claire! and another from secondary school - Hi Cheryl!). I do have many friends from my college days and it is great fun when we meet up. I met my husband there, so life would indeed be very different if I had chosen a different place to study!

My first best friend from playschool (up to 4 years) I didn't recognise when we met at senior school (high school). I sometimes think about my best friend in the first couple of years at primary school. Her parents went away, and I don't even know what her surname is so I can't look her up easily (Hi Gemma - remember playing in 'the stones' and round the poles?). Luckily for me Claire joined the school the next year and we've been mates ever since, although see each other very seldom.


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All those people that touch our lives and move on, each with a different shared experience...

Carla and Nancy, thank you for your kindness, I'm sending long distance hugs to you,  I think maybe it helps to write about these long ago things, I'm not sure I need more thought on this.

Ann, I know folks that use the face thingy, I won't.  I can always ask one of them to check up on my old school mate.  I just don't understand the social media thing.

I'm headed to the kitchen, it's a bread making day for me, and NO I will not be posting pics!!!

Peace