“With a friend at hand you can see the light, if your friends are here then everything’s alright.” (“Friends” by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin)
It’s not Thanksgiving but I need to give thanks for the plethora of friends I have in this life. I’m not sure what I did to deserve what these folks have brought to me but I sure am grateful!
My oldest friends being the Swain-Mitchell boys whom I’ve known going back as much as 60 years ago. My best friend Bobbo and I just marked 53 years of being close as family. Marko is another dear one, and we’ve been tight since college.
There’s also another middle school buddy Phil who’s a great sounding board when talking about sports, movies, politics and more. To be invited to both of his daughters’ weddings was very much appreciated. We’ve had plenty of other great times too.
There are so many others. Girls I’ve known since grade, middle and high school, guys the same, as well as guys from Elmhurst Baseball, YMCA Hockey and York Baseball as well.
I have my former radio co-workers, many of who I still stay in frequent touch with. Too bad college radio pal Jim Turano and I could only muster a few on air collaborations when he was on WGN AM. Maybe in the next life, we’ll do more together. There are also colleagues turned friends from schools where I’ve taught. Others are neighbors, former neighbors and many mutual Elmhurst residents. Irene, Judy and Joe and Rosalie lead that list.
There’ve been great mentors in my life who are no longer with us. with my parents and sister Marianne taking the lead influence there. Then there was Lee Swanson, Larry Lujack, plus education guides like Paul Murphy and Jason Vanderwoude. The teachings I got from these folks and others could fill the Grand Canyon.
Later in life, the working friendship I’ve formed with parody song pal Al Flash has been another special one. Then there’s the extended summer family I have at East End Pool. Our core group of 10 to 15 water walkers and then other lap swimmers, floaters and sun bathers who I’m friendly with each warm season.
These folks I’m thinking of and writing about have shared experiences with me; Hirings, firings, parties, concerts, movies, dinners, drinks, weddings, funerals and everything else in between. These times were spent together and I wouldn’t trade them for all the money in the world.
The favors, errands and care shown to me over the years has been overwhelming and I go to bed at night hoping I’ve been as good to those who’ve been good to me.
There are plenty of others who I’m probably leaving out in this post. Put it this way, if I ever won an Oscar, my name-dropping acceptance speech would last over an hour. Maybe it would be best to just say, “Thank you to all those I know, you know who you are and you’re the best.
This post isn’t any kind of goodbye. I’m not sick or dying or anything like that. I just thought it was time to express my gratitude to the salt of the earth people who I count as friends.
John Mellencamp put it best when he wrote, “My family and friends are the best things I’ve known, through the eye of a needle I’d carry them home.”
THIS ELTON JOHN OLDIE SAYS IT BEST.
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