barry

our parents were close friends. we were born the same year. we grew up together. and we were playmates. i remember us through the carefree, giddy memories of a child... playing games, pretending to be cowboys and indians, playing with your cars, and my dolls....eating candy and icecream.....laughing and having fun always. i don't recall us ever arguing. in fact, when i see your young face in my mind, you are always smiling.

we only knew each other as children. you moved away before we were teenagers. we did see each other one more time...when we were fifteen. i remember those few days that we met again...thinking and feeling that you were so wonderful. during those two short days that we spent together, i knew that we could be great, life-long friends....if only you lived closer. but you had to leave.

and i never saw you again.

i bet you never knew that i have been looking for you over the past 10 years... that memories of you sometimes fluttered through my mind, evoking nostalgia and colorful images that always made me feel young again...that i was hoping i could find you so that we could talk and laugh again. i have been wondering how you are, what you are doing, and what kind of adult you turned out to be.

yesterday i found out that you died.

today i can't stop thinking about you and experiencing alternating feelings of intense sadness...that you are gone and i can never see you again....and overwhelming happiness...that we shared so many childhood moments together.

barry. i will miss you.