Some friendships have expiration dates. The person who was my best friend in grade school was not my best friend in high school. My best friend in high school was not my best friend in college. Distance, time, responsibilities, and changing interests forced these friendships to grow apart. When I look back on those who were once such a major part of my life, I tend to find myself filled with regret. I wish I had done more to keep them strong and thriving. I also know some of this is the natural cycle of life.
Some people are meant to stay in your life for a little while. In Eddie, I found my first real friend. Unathletic, adorned with glasses, lovers of Saturday morning cartoons, we shared enough interests to keep life interesting. Thanks to Eddie, the playground was a little less lonely and my life was a lot more exciting.
As we transitioned from grade school to middle and high school, Eddie and I became interested in different things. Our taste in music was not the same. Our social circles did not mirror each other. What we valued from school changed. Our friendship grew apart.
In Brian, I found an equal. I found a person with a sense of humor mirroring mine. Brian possessed a unique ability to begin an evening laughing his way through some Tom Green gag and then transition to talking about cloud computing and black holes. I valued Brian’s intellect and wit. He made me more confident, funnier and challenged me to think more deeply. Brian was a grade behind me in school. When I graduated from Frederick High and started college, distance and new responsibilities got the best of me. Our friendship grew apart.
In Matt, I have found a best friend for life. Matt is hilarious, curious, and a gifted creator. Matt is one of the most loveable human beings you will ever meet. People are drawn to his energy and I was too. In fact, I still am. When I chose to leave Oklahoma for Seattle, I was fearful of our friendship growing apart. I made a promise not to repeat past mistakes. We still text and talk regularly and always make it a priority to visit each other when our orbits collide. Matt is one of those friendships I never want to lose.
Beyond these three gentlemen, there has been a fantastic cast of characters… Chris, Rob, Lyle, Tim Casey, Mark, Patrick, JR, and Tim. No matter the state of these friendships today, their value in my life has not been diminished. Like iron sharpening iron, they have impacted my life in incredible ways. I am better for knowing each of them. We may not speak as often as we once did. Distance, time, responsibilities, and changing interests may have won the day, but they made me a better friend, partner, citizen, and person. Even with the flow of life, their lessons have not been forgotten.
Be good to each other,
Nathan
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