Just One

For several years I have thought about an old childhood chum. We went through pre-teen and teenage years together. We lost contact while in college. Oh, we wrote from time to time while in college, but he dropped out, moved to New York City and shortly thereafter we lost contact.

The years before that we shared junior high school and high school. We attended the same church and shared all of the church’s youth groups and activities. During the summer, his scouting background helped us explore the woods, and bike paths of western New England. We talked about everything under the sun. We discussed puberty and sex matters, wondering all the while what it meant.

Later, we talked about science, history, philosophy and religion. We talked a lot together. In person and by phone. We built a fort in the woods and spent languorous hours thinking out loud about many topics. This was the 50’s. The music, architecture, cars, fashion and people of the era. We were into it all, at least chat wise.

Life came between us. He in Massachusetts and New York, me in Illinois and college. After college my career life took hold and then marriage, kids, do it yourself home projects, and a host of other things.

Now, a lot of other things came into my life including divorce, more career changes, and a host of other things. But, on a quiet day I think of Buddy Wynn. I wonder whatever happened to him. Is he even alive? What did he do with his life? What did or does his journey look like.

In the 50’s we explored the meanings of life as though no one else did so, too. It was just one couple of kids wondering aloud about matters too big to know. Little did we think that others were doing the same thing. Generations of other were doing the same thing and had been doing that for thousands of years.

Well, I guess it is just one life journey we experience, mine. But Buddy’s, too. So, two of us. A small number to get our heads around. However, every one of us does the same. We call it maturing through the phases of life. Oh, how separate we felt this to be. How private and secret, even. Truth be told, the one is all. Time does tell us this truth eventually.

I know it has in my case. Still, I wonder about Buddy. Where is he? What happened in his life? That was very long ago. Just one thinking of another one.

October 7, 2022

 

 

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