I met Charlie when we were seniors in high school, probably in Physics Class. He was a far more dedicated student than I; he studied, while I used logically-derived solutions to many problems. We became avid softball players during those years, as 5 or 6 of us played evenings sometimes 7 days a week. He attended University of Illinois after we graduated, while I flip-flopped on deciding on lifetime work. After I married at 23, Charlie often stopped by our house on Sunday evenings, to engage with our old gang, which enjoyed playing cards and drinking beer. Charlie, however, did not drink, as leaving our place, he would hit Interstate 80 and head west back to University of Iowa, where he completed his Masters in Metallurgical Engineering. As the years progressed, we drew apart, as my wife and I left Chicago to live in the Desert Southwest. Still, he came out there several times to visit us, he remaining single, and a resident of Chicago. Sometime in the '80s, he got married. Less than a year later, his wife died from a cerebral hemorrhage; he was devastated. Somewhere during that time frame, he met and became close to a widow who taught grade school. We met her when they came to visit us in Missouri, where we had moved in 1999. They have visited several times since, most recently here in west-central Arizona, several years ago, before Covid. Tomorrow, Monday the 8th., he will return on a Riverside Casino sponsored flight directly to Laughlin/Bullhead City. We both perceive it will likely be our last get-together. He was born 5 days after I was, same month, same year. He has had a number of health issues, mine is kidney failure. I expect it will be sweet-sorrow, yet I am so looking forward to it! Frank
I remember you writing about Charlie before, Frank. I hope you and Charlie have a great reunion and enjoy the visit. Funny how some people are fleeting acquaintances and others stay with us for a lifetime.
So great, to keep a friend for a literal lifetime! Hope you enjoy this visit, and that it's not the last.
Frank, here's my "lifetime friend" story. I grew up next door to my friend Janelle; we are about 8 months apart in age and went all through school as best friends. She was the maid of honor at my first wedding; I was in hers. We had babies, knew each other's families, kept in touch all these years and through various moves around the country. Last January when I found I had cancer, I tried to call her and she didn't answer, so I left her a tearful voice message. I got no response. So I texted her. Got no response. A few days later, I emailed her. No response. I worried that something was wrong so I looked at her Facebook activity and saw that she was still active and posting; her life is peachy. Apparently she just didn't want to know about me and my cancer. I have not gotten over it and I suppose I never will. You are very lucky to have Charlie.
@Beth Gallagher some times “liking a post as I’ve just done doesn’t seem quite right but I feel your hurt and disappointment at the cold response from your long term friend. I remember a really close friend I had in high school we’d wait for one another at the school gate in the morning eat lunch together and she would occasionally say come to the shop with me at lunch time ( in summer ) and she’d buy me a Kelvy which was a lemonade flavoured tetra shaped ice block …then one day another real bitchy female said ….dump Kate she’s only wants you for your money ….I was so shocked Debbie wouldn’t even talk to me it hurt me deeply I didn’t care if she was as poor as me ..it was nothing to do with the fact she had money to spend at the shop I never asked for the ice block she would buy me which was prob one or two during summer (no school canteens back then ) It’s funny how those memories come to the surface many many years after they happened in my case 60 years since I left school ..I’m 75 and left in the Dec school holidays when I was 14 …..didn’t turn 15 till the Feb
Damn it Beth that story made me cry. I had a similar experience when I told friends I had cancer. One was supportive and the others were "well let us know how it goes." Only one was a total disappointment and her reply was that she never thought I would sink so low as to play the cancer card. All I did was let her know I had cancer and had to bail on her granddaughter's wedding because of all the preparations the day before surgery. that was the same evening as the wedding. I was so weak I couldn't stand on my feet. if I postponed the surgery, I had a 60 day wait. The chances of the cancer developing into a higher stage were too great to wait. You are indeed lucky to have a friend like Charlie @Frank Sanoica very fortunate. I had a friend like that (one year younger)) but he died several years ago.
It makes me cry to tell that story. Of all my friends, I'd never have believed it from Janelle. And I have to say, that "friend" of yours is no loss. Cancer card indeed. @Frank Sanoica , I hope you and Charlie are having lots of fun this week.
My college roommate called me up after years of not hearing from her. She asked if we had any plans to travel (4 years ago). She said her travel companion had died and she was hoping to find someone else to travel with. It just happened we had booked a tour of San Francisco/California so she decided to come with us. I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing her again. It had been a few years. While in Frisco she had chest pains and went to the emergency room. Came back and they had diagnosed her with leukemia! How could she all of the sudden have leukemia? I told her to call her own doctor as they had wanted her to check in right after the diagnosis. Well she finished the tour. About a week later, her brother called saying she had been put on heavy chemo and that she had died of kidney failure. I still don't understand how that could happen.
I think it was published thirty years ago that more people die of chemo than of any supposed reason for getting it.