Charles Towne
By Charles Towne
Abraham Lincoln said it very well when he said, and I paraphrase: “If you have one or two friends in a lifetime that know the good and the bad about you and remains your friend, you are exceedingly fortunate.”
What is Abe saying here? That true, lasting friendship is uncommonly rare! I wonder. could he also be saying that casual relationships are more the norm? I wonder.
Here I am, well into my ninetieth year, and I must admit that a lot of people have come and gone in my life, sadly far more than I can remember. But there are a few that I will never forget.
Do you remember and stay in touch with those in your life that you consider important?
Alvin was a boyhood chum of mine. We fished together, hunted together, climbed trees together, got into trouble together... but as life dictates and as circumstances present themselves, we went our separate ways. It wasn’t that I forgot about him, oh no! After all, he was my friend, and we don’t forget our friends, do we! (And by the way, his name was Alvin but we all called him Dootsie Bobo. How could I forget Dootsie Bobo?!) Years passed, as they are want to do, and I reached out to my old friend. Here I am in Florida, and I discovered that he still lived in Illinois only six miles from where we grew up. I dialed his number and listened as the phone rang. I was excited to hear that old familiar voice; he sounded just as I remembered!
“Alvin?” I said, "This is Chuck Towne.”
And then there was silence... and then he said, “Oh, Mr Towne, my dad told me so much about you. I am sorry to tell you but my father died two weeks ago.”
I don’t remember what else was said, but when we hung up, I wept.
Yes, friendship is so important isn’t it.
Just something to think about.
