The Vine, Summer 2024
The Melody Lingers On
How many times have we all been captured by the melody of a great song? When we hear it again on the radio or streaming from a playlist on our phone we are immediately taken back to some very special moments. Our friendships in life are much the same. Henry David Thoreau offered us some wisdom on saying goodbye to old friends when he said. “The only danger in a friendship is that it will end.”
I recently lost a very close friend of 40-plus years. At our age, this happens more than I would like. Our friendship grew out of a chance meeting at a gas station and my interest in waterfowl. I had stopped for gas and spotted a sticker on a nearby car for the conservation nonprofit Ducks Unlimited. I chatted up the guy, got his phone number and the rest is history.
We had similar interests — from fishing to hunting dogs to waterfowl. Our membership in Ducks Unlimited brought us into contact with many new places and people — a broad brotherhood across New York state. Even our wives became friends. It was truly a life gift to meet so many wonderful people. Friendships were born in the moment and chapters in our books of life were written.
I will not mourn for long the man who died, but I will give thanks that such a man lived. We must follow our hearts, take that journey into the unknown and welcome serendipity. He was a man who took chances and engaged anyone in conversation. He was always looking for the next adventure, the next laugh, the next bird dog and yes, the next cocktail. He made decoys, took up painting, was a good mentor at casting a fly and made a great Caesar salad. He had a way with words and he was a bit of a pontificator at times, but hey, we all can be. Before he moved to Florida for his final years, he gifted me with a lovely wildlife print from an artist we had met together many years earlier. I welcomed that print into my collection and remembered that cherished weekend in Vermont where I met another brother from Buffalo, New York.
Saying goodbye to old friends is a reminder of the fleeting nature of our existence. Even though my friend’s tale with me has ended, it will continue to resonate in my heart forever. I give thanks for his friendship and will continue to do my best at being the best friend that someone needs.
To my dear friend, I say: So long for now. Please pet that dog, and we will catch up later. And thank you.
