Seperation of friends, as life moves forward

I have been reminiscing this morning, more of times that were full of smiles and carefree days. It was really nice to do, but it also has been one of sadness and some regret. The reason for this you may be wondering, well it was a great friend of mine called today, and I had the opportunity to just chat with him, and talk about the great times that we had with our two families, and the business that we owned together. The hard or sad part is the part of not being in one another’s life anymore.

I guess I need to explain a little more. Steve was a great friend, and was there when I married my last wife, he was there for the separation, and finally he was one of the first three people to know about my liver failure. I was there when his second little man was born, when he separated from his ex-wife, his new girlfriend, and everything in between.

IF it went on in Steve’s or my life, then we either knew about it, or were there to be the friend that we needed. He still lives in Florida and me, well I am in Maine, and we are 1900 miles apart. Not much of an opportunity to spend a Sunday BBQ’ing, or watching each other’s little one’s grow up. His boys are getting big, and he has gone through hell with his ex-wife, while I moved back to Maine after 9 years in Florida, and now have someone very special to me in my life. The last few years has seen a quick call every three or four months, but nothing of significance, but when we start talking, it is like yesterday we were out with our landscape business, and today we are just chatting on the phone. There is that best friend connection, and we seldom will see that in our lifetimes.

I helped his sister in finding a great career, we helped his younger brother with car problems and being stranded, and he helped me put my new house in Florida together, as well as helped me move back to Maine. He has come to Maine twice since I moved back, and is always asking me to move back to Florida, while I ask him to move to Maine. Our lives are separate, but that bond is still so close.

There are things that make me mad in life, but very little makes me sad, and after talking with Steve, I was truly sad. I wish I had a way to remove those miles, and turn back the years that we have missed in one another’s family events. His boys still call me Uncle Randy, and his dad still asks how I am doing. Not many people who have gone from your life physically do you have that close relationship. And not to sound chauvinist, but it is even rarer to find it in men, because of the whole macho thing.

For me, people are what make life special, and wonderful, and I guess today, realizing we may never be physically close enough to visit one another on a regular basis, and to watch our children grow, it saddens me considerably. I do not know how else to explain it. So now, what to say to him, when he is in need of a friend, and what to do about somehow making things right? It may just be a pipe dream, but for me, it is like losing your best friend all over again.

I just wanted to share with you, and get some input on your opinion, and thoughts. Maybe you have an idea, or suggestion that might work out. I would be eternally grateful, if someone could come up with what I see as the impossible.