Here's To Old Friends

I went to a funeral today of the father of an old friend. I hadn't seen this friend in quite some time but, like most good friends, we were able to pick up right where we left off, as if no time had passed at all, really.  Sure, our children grew older, we grew wiser, but time, in essence, remained the same.

The circumstances of our reuniting were quite sad, of course. It's never easy to lose someone you love. Yet it's during these times when we gain the greatest perspective of the true meaning of life. Sitting in the Conservatory, waiting for the service to begin and alone in my thoughts, I felt strangely comforted by my surroundings, and began reflecting on the past.

I remember years ago when life wasn't as "complex" as it now seems. When we'd compete over who was the skinniest; whose kid was growing the fastest...everything back then was a competition over the "est." Laughable.

Today, it's about finding peace: for ourselves, our children, our family, our friends. When the only competition taking place is that between ourselves--to be the best selves we know how to be.

The eulogies given were so beautiful, so touching in so many ways. From both his daughters, and even his granddaughter. Reminders of why we are the way we are, the legacy we strive to carry forward...not just in words, but in actions.

The years come & go, but the core remains. At our heart is a soul seeking to love and be loved. And while some friends are with us day in & out, some come & go. A reason, season and lifetime.  Watching this mans' friends and family pay homage to his life...well, some may even be with us for eternity.

RIP.