I've Had Some Friends

"I've had some friends, some that I hardly know, but we've had some times I wouldn't trade for the world." -Rise Against, Swing Life Away (My high school senior song!)

Have there ever been truer words spoken?  Throughout the course of one's life, everyone has the opportunity to meet great people and gain great friendships(My saber tooth tiger has probably known a lot more people than I have).  However, due to various circumstances, we are often forced to say "goodbye" to those friends at some point.  It may be a friend that you have known for years, like throughout middle school and high school.  It may be a friend that you have only had the pleasure of knowing for a couple months or weeks or less. Sometimes you know when a friendship as it is is ending.  Other times, you leave and then, for some reason or another, you just lose contact with the person. But does the length of a friendship really matter at all?  As long as you've had the opportunity to make some great memories with a person, isn't it a complete success?

Unfortunately, in the past few weeks I have seen two great people move away to pursue greater opportunities elswhere.  This got me feeling nostalgic and looking back, not only at the great times with the afformentioned 2 people, but also all the great people I got to know throughout the days of high school and college, and the rest of my life's 23 years.  Some of these people I have been fortunate enough to keep contact with, and still get an opportunity to see occasionally.  Others, not so much.  But either way, I have some great memories I can always look back to for all of them.  And even though I may never see them again, or they may never be what they were to me before life took us in seperate directions, I know they will always hold a special place in my life, and may even be a part of making me into the person I am today.

So why do I grin when I play the third hole at Ironwood golf club in Hartland, MI?  Why do I shake my head when I hear the word "Gunz"?  Why do goats make me think about things like a bag of large panties and a reeses peanut butter cup, or a sore bright red ass, or a baby reindeer christmas decoration?  Why does the computer lab on the second floor of the engineering building at MSU give me a craving for a delicious Summer Shandy?  Why do the Backstreet Boys now make me think of getting kicked out of The Peanut Barrel and free Long Island Ice Teas?  Why do I turn red and shake my head with embarrassment when I hear "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias?  And why do now have a ridiculous fear of phonebooks?

Some know the answers to these questions.  Others do not, and that's ok.  These are just some of the memories I've had with great people.  And I guess they all came from times that I wouldn't trade for the world.  (Wow, would you like an extra slice of cheese with your blog post.)

I remember you and I miss you all.

Goodnight Cathy.