Following Suit

Today is Eddie’s birthday. For years I have always sent him an E-mail on his birthday. He was born one day after me. Him and I grew up together at times. It started with football. We both played Five-Star football. Then I moved on to the street where he lived. That is when I really got to know him and several other guys. I had known the Peery’s because they use to live in my old neighborhood. Now I had all these new friends and once again Eddie.

Over the years we would ride motorcycles, learn to drive, ride bikes, build camps, go camping, go to the river, the mountains. We went to school, movies, swimming, and sometimes we would have long talks.

Those times were while our younger brothers were playing basketball. We would go on the playground. We were around fifteen at the time. Eddie would sometimes dip. I didn’t dip at the time, but I would have some Skittles and get them chewy, then pack it in like I was dipping.

During these times we would talk about everything under the sun. We always talked about what we were going to be like at parents. How we were going to have kids. How we were going to raise them. We talked about many other things as well. I sometimes wonder if Eddie remembers any of those conversations.

It is funny calling him Eddie, because I am the only one who does that. That is the only way I knew him, but now I guess everyone else calls him Ed. But I am stuck on the old ways.

I have seen Eddie once in the last couple years. He was living in the highlands with his kids and wife. I believe now he lives in Redmond. He has been working for the same company for years. I can’t wait to hear back from him. I was thinking recently that he and I have never had a drink together… legally. I am not sure if he is a golfer either, but I would love to see him again.