Very old friend... raised here, in my small hometown. He was held back in the first grade, I was in Kindergarten... so I joined him in 1st grade... finished grade school with him, then High School, then two years of college.... at which time he 'disappeared'. Or rather... went another way. Some difficult personal problems took him.
And that was the last time I saw him - until five years ago. It took a funeral to provide the opportunity for he and I to meet again. Unless you've experienced this what I'm about to say makes little sense.... it was as if no time had gone by.
In the last 5 years we've met many times... but we don't meet regularly.
He has cancer, he's in Chemo, he's doing VERY well. Tonight was his 70th birthday. So his wife invited most of his new(er) friends. But she also got the 'gang' back together... My friend, me, and 4 other's from my hometown, all in the same class through high school AND two years in college. We sat together. We are a bit.... I suppose the word is 'infamous'. We were not bad kids... we didn't rob, we harmed no others, but we were mischievous and some of our exploits our legendary. In the last 5 years we have gotten together many times and always we start telling the most embarrassing stories about each other that we can think of.... and we can think of a LOT. People tend to gather around us... some stories they have heard, but always want to 'rehear'... always some 'new stories' come out.
Bad for all of us, of course... after we meet each of us goes home to an ass-chewing, (I never heard THAT one before, you really DID THAT?)
When we meet we gravitate towards each other... all of us. There is us, then many others we love with all hearts but came later.... they didn't, how should I say this? Go to battle with us, nearly from birth.
I can give you our names and still protect the innocent... There are Red, Kelp, Flubba-Mouth, Ollie, I'm Gorn. Few others as well.
Lately those standing around us as we reminisce have begun shouting out requests, "Tell the one about Gorn jumping naked out of the 3rd floor window"... or perhaps "Tell the one about Kelp riding on top of the giant Sleepy Bear you stole from the motel". "Tell the one about when all of you were in the jeep and a shotgun went off and you had to sneak into Gragnani Farms to get the first-aid kit and dig BB's out of your legs till dawn". That last one came up again tonight. Red told it this time. We alternate.
We've never had the good common sense to snitch on those NOT present.... none of us are all that bright. I suppose we feel that without the spectacle of first-hand humiliation the stories just don't have that 'pizzaz' a good story needs.
We did do one thing differently this gathering.... Kelp's wife, (it was his birthday), made us all stand in line and took a photo of us.... she'll probably post it on Facebook... I'll check, and post it if she does.
Just got home and saw, and remembered this thread.... and thought hmmmm, in a way, I was celebrating Waterfield's birthday as well. Of course I don't have any 'dirt' on you... but that doesn't concern me... because I have found that should you ever find yourself in 'my friend's group' my guess is that Mrs. Waterfield would probably wish to contribute... certainly she has dirt on you... and if she's anything like our wives they take a bit of pleasure, too much pleasure in my opinion, in watching their husbands squirm.
So we told stories, we compared medications, we entertained many, and we had a very good time... and I hope your birthday was as great. - Jimmy
