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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Dear Jonathan...
6:17 PM | 
Posted by
Christine
This weekend, I took A downstate with me, as I had a meeting with the movie guys to get a few things off the ground. The meeting went very well, and I'm quite excited.
On the way there, though, we did something that was several years overdue. We stopped in Peoria for the night to visit my friend Jonathan and his family. Amazingly enough, the years have slipped by at a shocking pace that nearly ten of them had passed since we'd seen each other. Dinner and conversation were long overdue.
When I look back at those last ten years, it amazes me how many things have changed. My marriage ended, my career began, my son grew into a young man, and I evolved into a woman who can handle just about anything life throws her way. In so many ways, I am a completely different person than I was when I last saw them.
And in others, it seems, I am exactly the same.
I can say the same thing for Jonathan. Marriage has treated him well, and fatherhood even better. His wife and children are simply the best things that could have ever happened to him.
But he's still the same Mr. Fabulous. He's also goddamned funny.
"These people you work for, do they realize that you once wrote a check for a pack of gum?" He asked, and I had to laugh. I remember the moment vividly. I believe it was a pack of Carefree, green flavor.
Hey, I needed gum.
We laughed over some great old stories, caught each other up on who else has ended up where, and reminded each other of why we became friends nearly seventeen years ago.
But that wasn't all. We also exchanged stories about the wonders of parenting, the tribulations of working for a living, and what we find important in our lives today. I spoke with his wife for longer than I'd ever had the opportunity to before, and realized fully just how well she complements him. I fell in love with his beautiful children, and watched A help little T to build a Lego fire truck. Seeing a new generation in action was more touching than I can say.
I have lost touch with so much of my past, and forgotten so many things that have made me who I am today. But when, from across the room, I heard a bellowing, "Hey, Steener!" and turned to see a beach ball flying at my head, I had to admit that I felt like a kid again. Some parts of the old me are pretty okay, after all.
And Jonathan?
The truth is, whenever I think of the early 90's, I only remember what a great friend you were. And I still remember how you prevented me from being plenty self-destructive for my taste at the time. Don't think I will ever forget the things you gave me courage to do.
It was good to see you. Let's not wait another ten years, okay? I have a feeling we have a lot of stories left to tell, and still to create.
On the way there, though, we did something that was several years overdue. We stopped in Peoria for the night to visit my friend Jonathan and his family. Amazingly enough, the years have slipped by at a shocking pace that nearly ten of them had passed since we'd seen each other. Dinner and conversation were long overdue.
When I look back at those last ten years, it amazes me how many things have changed. My marriage ended, my career began, my son grew into a young man, and I evolved into a woman who can handle just about anything life throws her way. In so many ways, I am a completely different person than I was when I last saw them.
And in others, it seems, I am exactly the same.
I can say the same thing for Jonathan. Marriage has treated him well, and fatherhood even better. His wife and children are simply the best things that could have ever happened to him.
But he's still the same Mr. Fabulous. He's also goddamned funny.
"These people you work for, do they realize that you once wrote a check for a pack of gum?" He asked, and I had to laugh. I remember the moment vividly. I believe it was a pack of Carefree, green flavor.
Hey, I needed gum.
We laughed over some great old stories, caught each other up on who else has ended up where, and reminded each other of why we became friends nearly seventeen years ago.
But that wasn't all. We also exchanged stories about the wonders of parenting, the tribulations of working for a living, and what we find important in our lives today. I spoke with his wife for longer than I'd ever had the opportunity to before, and realized fully just how well she complements him. I fell in love with his beautiful children, and watched A help little T to build a Lego fire truck. Seeing a new generation in action was more touching than I can say.
I have lost touch with so much of my past, and forgotten so many things that have made me who I am today. But when, from across the room, I heard a bellowing, "Hey, Steener!" and turned to see a beach ball flying at my head, I had to admit that I felt like a kid again. Some parts of the old me are pretty okay, after all.
And Jonathan?
The truth is, whenever I think of the early 90's, I only remember what a great friend you were. And I still remember how you prevented me from being plenty self-destructive for my taste at the time. Don't think I will ever forget the things you gave me courage to do.
It was good to see you. Let's not wait another ten years, okay? I have a feeling we have a lot of stories left to tell, and still to create.
1 comments:
I've been meaning to write this for a while.... this post means a lot to me. Thank you.
It was a great visit. A is an amazing young man. It was great to see both of you, and spend some (but not enough) time with you guys. I will figure out a way to pack up the family for all of us to visit you at your place sometime soon. Well, maybe not SOON soon, but sooner than the ten years that past last time.