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June 28, 2000 |
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I got to work at my typical time today. Which is to say afternoon, or at very least late morning. You know… mornings don't really agree with me. Once I got to my office I take off my fanny pack [Yes, I realize that "fanny" has an entirely different meaning for you British folk, but that's what they're called here in the states] Anyway, I take off my fanny pack and put it on the floor and went about my business. If you're wondering why I happen to put this on the floor you'd simply have to take a quick look at my office. Well, a few minutes later, as I was rolling in my office chair, I heard a very distinct "crack".
Terrific.As I looked down, I realized that I had inadvertently run over the clasp for my fanny pack. It still worked, for the moment, but it would require replacing soon. Presumably this would teach me to keep a clean office… Nah!
Tonight I would have dinner with Len. We had talked about doing something quick since he was still in the midst of packing. I don't envy him. I would have a fit if I had to do it, but then again at this point I would probably just pay someone else do to the packing. There are just some things that are simply not worth the trouble.
We made plans to go to Pizza Hut. It was a moderately quick meal without being quite fast food. We ordered the sausage lover's pizza and some chicken wings as appetizers. We chatted more about what his plans were for the next few months. We was meeting up with some friends in Minnesota, among them his brother. They were going to watch the Red Sox play the Twins. Ah, the joy of watching live baseball, even if it is American league baseball.
We normally order the wings half hot and half mild, so that we can each have them the way we like. Not that I can't eat mild wings, but he just figures that I might as well have it the way I normally prefer. I didn't order anchovies on my half of the pizza. He winced when I suggested it.
We continued chatting the way we always do. Not as if this would be our last supper together for a while, but just like any other of the many meals that we have shared. We wrapped it up rather quickly. I asked him for the location of the nearest fabric store. He looked at me quizzically and naturally asked me "why" first. I explained the entire ordeal with the fanny pack. [Okay, you Brits, stop laughing…]
He might still need some help either packing or cleaning, so I told him I would call him later tonight to check up on him. I also said that I would drop by to see his progress.
I went to Joan's Fabrics to get the replacement clasp. I toyed with the idea of replacing it myself. I can sew. My mom was a seamstress for years and I learned a number of things from her. Unfortunately, I didn't have a sewing machine and trying to sew this securely by needle and thread would just be too much of a task. I figured that I would simply take it to an alterations place to get the sucker replaced, and give them the replacement part in case they didn't have it. It was two dollars, I'm not going to sweat it.
I also stopped by Sports Authority to pick up a new fanny pack. I made it there about ten minutes before they closed. They had about three different ones to pick from and I picked the Nike one. It had three compartments so that I could separate all miscellaneous things I carry. I still like the design of the current one I have a little better.
I went back to work to continue working for a while.
Len called me in the evening and asked if I might bring some gatorade when I went to his place. I agreed.
I must've been about 11pm when I finally made it back to his place. I visited his one bedroom apartment for the last time. I watched as his home for the past six years was dismantled into simply a dwelling and a collection of things. It was a bit sad to see.
He gave me a few things to hold on to… some important documents that he wasn't comfortable leaving in storage nor taking with him on the road. We looked over some last minute things making sure that all little details were in order… the details that we remembered anyway. And then we simply shook hands and said our goodbyes.
"Later."He had gone last years for the span of a couple of months, as he plans to this year. Still, then I always knew that he would come back. I still know he will, since many of his belongings are still here in Washington. However, the prospect of his leaving Washington for good is more probably now that he no longer has a place to live.
A number of people are worried of what will become of me if he does leave. Len and I are good friends, he is perhaps my best friend. We have temperaments that complement each other well. He probably more than anyone has spent more time with me as the person I am now… not the person I was in high school or college.
If he decides to leave Washington for good I'll surely miss him. I'll no longer have the Sunday Dinner with Len™ that we've grown so accustomed to. We'll still talk on the phone from time to time. There's always e-mail, although I think I'm much more comfortable with that medium than he is.
Inevitably, our friendship will change, it doesn't mean that we will no longer be friends. It means that we will be different friends. If there's anything that friendship has taught me is that life changes. There are moments that you spend with certain people, where you simply know that you'll always be friends. For me, those moments will always be dear to me. However, these memories do not define our friendships; they simply serve to enhance them.
The mere act of living is to experience change. Isn't it ironic that we try to preserve so much? Yes, friendships change, as they always will, as will the friendship I have with Len. Still, no matter where we happen to be or what either of us may be doing, we'll always be friends. No doubt in my mind.
June 28, 2000