"Friendship is so weird," the Facebook meme reads, "you just pick a human you've met and you're like 'yep, I like this one' and you just do stuff with them." (1) I smile when I read the meme, knowing that as an introvert friendship is even stranger than the three "minions" pictured. I can't imagine what it would be like to be friends with someone (like me) who enjoys the solitude of the mountains as much as I do; however, I'm grateful for my few close friends.
That is why it was hard to choke back the tears when I received an email from one of those close friends commemorating my thirty-year career with my company. Brent and I became friends through work, and although later he would switch companies, he is still one of those close friends you talk to regularly. The email contained a congratulation and a great list of his memories of what we had done together.
I won't bore you with the monolog because it is only fun and sometimes sober to those who participated; however, I'll summarize the types of activities that have developed a deep friendship over time.
Skiing. We both have a passion for snow skiing and have spent many hours on the ski lifts together, chatting and eating pizza in the lodge during breaks.
Travel. Early in our careers, we would carpool to meetings hours away from our homes and families.
Talk. We often talk on the phone about work, family, and adventures. Sharing ideas, hopes, frustrations, and "pontificating (on) everything in between."
Hiking. Brent and his son joined me on one of my peak-bagging adventures in Zion National Park.
Canyoneering. Rappelling into deep canyons develops a profound trust in those who place their lives in your hands.
Food. Oysters, burgers, pizza, and crab. Breaking bread is always an excellent way to develop friendships.
Reflecting. Others have passed through our lives through shared activities, work, and friendships.
Stories. Experiences we have often told become legendary tales of friendship and adventure.
Brent closes the email with another congratulatory notation regarding my career and hopes for more adventures in the future. I smile, and while we all have only a short lease on life, I also hope for a long and continued friendship. The adventures will undoubtedly change as we age; however, I suspect the stories will enlarge to fill the space between what we can do and the tales we tell of our past adventures.
Thank you Brent for your email and abiding friendship.
Written March 1, 2023
Footnotes:
Meme created by DesiComments.com