You too, Swampbear, have a happy Turkey Day. There are some friends I’ve had that I’ve lost touch with. There are family members and friends that have passed on, So to be thorough, I’ll mention them in my list
Larry, we had a lot of fun in Kentucky. I still miss the times we went fishing and when you taught me how to rock climb. Most of all I miss your company. You were a true friend, and you were always there with a kind word and a smile no matter how bad things looked.
Chris, Well we haven’t lost touch but its been years since we saw each other. Still, even my wife refers to you as “my best friend” because you always were. You made it okay for me to laugh at myself.
Fox, hahaha! When I was really alone in a new place you befriended me and you didn’t have to. Gawd I miss you. Your strong ethics and morals kept me from going to the dark side more than once.
Goat-Man; dude I have been looking for you since you came back from Iraq! You know why? Your brother told me once that you said I was the only guy in our recruiting station that you really liked and trusted. I never told you that the feeling was mutual and I regret that. you were always the better man out of all of us there. I respect you so much.
Cox; I sincerely hope that we meet again someday, my old roommate. Remembering the times we shared joking around and laughing always make me smile. Even our commander at the time said we made a great pair of friends. Wherever you are I’m sure you still chuckle about the time we got lost in Mannhiem in 20 degree weather. I do…especially the two hour walk we had to get home!
Rick; What happened to you man? I wish I knew where you are, my old friend. I still remember the road trip we took on the spur of a moment.
SSG Heron; I was your surbordinate…how many times did we cover each other? But the day you told me that i was not only your favorite soldier but you considered me a friend I was really touched. Especially the time when you spoke up for me when it looked like I was guilty. *(I was innocent of what they said I had done, but you had the faith in me and the balls to stand up and defend me). *Along with you i have to say that I’m grateful for the friendship of SSG Henderson…who never could beat me at scrabble and it drove him nuts, **SSG Rae **who always made me feel good about myself with her inspirattional attitude and **Captain Ellis **the hands down best commander I’ve ever seen. Ellis would make a tour of the barracks every friday just to tell the troops ***“Good Job! Have a good weekend!”. ***He made us all feel good about the grinding work all week and he always had a joke and pat on the pack for people.
Ricky; you remember when I was down on my luck and the future looked bleak? You came to my house and basically cursed me out for being a quitter and not trying to fix my life. I was so pissed at you for that for years. But you made me get up and take action and I got my shit together becaudse you pushed me. I know we spoke of of it when we last met and I told you I was thankful for you doing that…but I regret that we’ve lost touch now man. You didn’t have to try and help me, but you did it. I owe you, bro. And I miss you, I remember how we used to ride our bikes for miles down old creek road as kids, and go get hoagies at the deli and listen to music in your backyard. Good times, my old buddy.
Jackie; you’ve passed on now. I regret that we never spoke again after our last big fight. I know you really cared about me and I cared about you. But we were a bad match and we both knew that i think. It was never your fault, and you appealled to the better half of my personality. Rest in peace, Jacks…I know you had a rough life and i pray that you are happy now.
Christina; you were one of the people in my life that inspired me. I have never met your equal, ever! Your concern for other people was monumental. Your devotion to makinmg things better for people less fortunate was legendary. I loved you like the older sister figure you were to me. When I really really really needed a friend you were there and you gave your aid with no concern of repayment or anything. Of all of the people I’ve met in my journeys you were the best of them. i will never forget you, you made me a better person. You made all of us, anyone you touched, better. (Christina died in a car accident ten years ago, and I would trade places with her in a minute. She truly deserved to live more than I and she died because she insisted that the EMTs free her parents first from the wreckage while she bled to death.)
Mom; I know you did not really want a son. And i was a crappy son. But you put up with me, and while our relationship was rocky for awhile before you left us, we really connected as I grew older. When you told me that day in the backyard that you were proud of me I felt so good. Because though I was a selfish and hard to deal with child, I always wanted you to be proud of me. I miss you so much, because now that i’ve made a life for myself I regret that you are not here to be a part of it.
My Grandparents; You took care of me. My grandfather wasn’t a doctor or a scholar, but he was my hero. Because he spent time with me. He did his best to look out for me. And he was always proud of me no matter how badly I performed in sports or how much everyone else said I was a misfit. I was a misfit, and he always went out of his way to make me feel like I wasn’t. my grandmother…she was a rock. She had more strength in her than all of us put together. I will never forget the time she told me to come home for thanksgiving because she missed me. It was a time when no one else wanted me around. When I feel down I think of the times she would wake me up for school and make me pancakes for breakfast. Even my friends used to say she made the best pancakes in all 50 states.
Aunt Myrt, Jeez. I cannot go without saying I’m thankful for Aunt Myrt. she too has passed on this very year, but she was a person of great integrity and caring. She raised me as much as my actual family. (We were not related, everyone called her “Aunt” Myrt.) She also helped me when my folks died. Aunt Myrt, 'm thankful for everything you did for me. You really did not have to. But you did, and as long as I live you will never be forgotten.
Uncle Larney; My great uncle really. He was the best. He took care of me when I had no one. I was an adult then, but I was drifting. Uncle Larney put me on the right track. He went out of his way to make sure I was okay and living right, even though he was very old then and it was hard for him to travel. When I got back from the first Gulf War he was there to meet me at the airport. He had photos of me all over his house because he so proud of me. He arranged a block part in his neighborhood for me and the other guys that came back. Being a veteran himself he always looked put for any servicemembers he knew. I especially miss the times I took leave to visit him and we’d sit on the porch and talk about everything and he’d always laugh and tell me “Boy, you ain’t right…you just ain’t right in the head.” .
These are just a few of the people I’m thankful for. I hope I see some of them again. I hope that they think kindly of me during the holidays. Who are you thankful for?