Didn't know where to put this, peeked into bereavement board but this isn't in the same league as the losses people are writing about in there. But I have been crying since 6 o'clock when my dad phoned to tell me that an old friend of mine died at the weekend.
I haven't seen G. for years although there was a time when we were great mates. It was a pub-based friendship that developed into something deeper. For the romantics among you, you might understand when I say he was a bit of a kindred spirit. It was a friendship that shouldn't have worked but did....even though when we met i was in my early twenties, tearing through life and swinging from one drama to another, and he was the auld fella in the pub who had the twinkle in his eye and the dirtiest laugh and naughty sense of humour. There was 50 years between us but the craic was mighty and there was just so much laughter. I think I benefitted from his wisdom, and he got the ego boost of having a pretty young woman (as I was then!) pay attention to him!
There was never anything inappropriate or salacious....it was all very innocent.He walked me home from the pub more than once, going out of his way to make sure I got home OK, I cried on his shoulder on many occasions and on just as many we laughed together until the tears of mirth tripped us. He used to call me Flower and flirt outrageously. He gave me perfume once and was like a shy schoolboy giving it to me. He was one of the friends who stood with me as my mum's coffin was lowered into the grave ten years ago.
He was an old man even from the day and hour i met him but he never acted like it....one of those folks who never really lost that wonderful sense of childish fun, if that makes sense?
Lives took us in different directions and contact had dwindled down to annual Christmas cards in recent years, usually with a letter included. When I didn't receive a Christmas card this year I did wonder, and dad confirmed tonight after reading the death notice in the paper. I feel bad that I hadn't kept more in touch, although my life has had a lot of upheaval in recent years, and I believe he understood that. But I am so sad tonight at the loss of someone who was a dear friend at one time in my life.
I will be having a glass of wine and drinking a toast to my auld friend GeeBee. Gone but not forgotten.