A Friend

A very long time ago in a place far, far away, if I may paraphrase a line from a famous movie, I had a friend who at the time was the best and closest friend I thought I would ever have.  In a shocking and horrible few minutes that seemed like hours he died in a jungle back in the Vietnam war days.  His death was devastating to me.  I had lost or I should say I had my best friend torn away from me, I didn't lose him.  I know many guys had much the same experience back in those days just as so many young men and women are having the same sorts of experiences in today's war torn world.

I don't mean to suggest that my experience was any worse then anyone else's.  My point is that I was fortunate to have had such a close friend and when he was gone, I missed him terribly and still do today 40 years later.

Close friends are like that.  And it seems to me that such friends, real and true "soul friends" don't come along very often.  Now if by some chance, you have many friends like this, then count your blessings, you are indeed fortunate. If, like me, you have only had one or two such good and close friends in your life then join me in counting our blessings also.  For to have such a friend, one to whom you can bare your soul knowing that your most private thoughts are safe, that you will not be judged, that shared words and thoughts are meant to lift you, to make you feel as if the world really is a good place - well that is my idea of a true friend. 


I had such a friend a long time ago, and I believed after he died, that I would never have such a friend again.  But I have been proven wrong because just such a friend has come into my life after so many years and like the words from the song Helen (Meryl Streep) sings to Francis (Jack Nicholson) in the movie Ironweed, I can say with no shadow of doubt. She's Me Pal