A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name

I don't want to lose the friends I've made. Kathryn van Eenam was telling me about her "Death List." No, I don't mean opponents of Roger Federer (her one true love and messiah)... (he's a famous tennis player). It's a list of people she'd like to know if they die. Kind of a weird idea, but the idea is rather endearing. Persisting friendships, despite a lack of correspondence.

I'm worried that, as I grow older, I'll lose my friends and end up more or less "alone." Friends are nice because they're people you enjoy, who you know you enjoy. Unlike coworkers, they're sort of "sure things." I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose the people who cheer me up, even if they don't even realize they're doing it. Who make me feel like I have people out there who care, people who know me.

I've sort of surprised myself in how well I've been able to keep up with the people I knew from high school (the ones I associated with the most). For instance, I still talk to David Duncan, David Sugue, Ellen, and Cory on a pretty regular basis, in one form or another. And I like that. I mean, I've made new friends. But I don't want to sacrifice the old ones at their expenses. I know things change and people become distant. But I don't want to completely lose hold of people from my past. Instant messenging is a great asset in this department, and fortunately although much of my time is taken now, I've been able to maintain plenty of old and new relationships.

Will it continue? I don't know. I hope so. We'll see. It'd be kind of nice, though, to look back 4, 10, 20 years in the future and be able to say "You know what? I still keep in touch with people I knew from high school. More than a bi-monthly pity party, but actually keep up with them and even, heaven forbid, real life association with them."

I know most of you will fade. That's just how things happen. I just don't want it all to go. I don't want to be alone. I mean, even if I do find a wife/significant other, I still want friends to partay/loaf around with. Are the two mutually exclusive? Maybe. I hope not. So much speculation...

Just remember. Gone, but not forgotten. Not forgotten for many, many, many years...