PEOPLE: BFF’S

” Best Friends Forever “. I acquired that bit of text acronym from my grandchildren. Of course, they wanted to take me to a whole new dimension of acronym’s that even Einstein would have difficulty understanding. Just learning to mute my smartphone, I declined their offer. When one refers to their BFF’s is it a temporary feel good time frame or is it a relationship that truly justifies a ” best friend (s) forever”.

For me, one such justification just occurred this past weekend. Four of my college baseball teammates ( ECU ) and I met for a reunion that had been postponed from the beginning of Covid- 19. Prior to Covid this small group of friends would attend a baseball game in the Spring and a football game in the Fall. Thinking outside the box we were able to put together a meeting at a teammates residence. The war stories were still the same, how is your family, any new ailments, who was the most recent to get knee replacement, and my arthritis is worse than yours. One would have thought we were patients at a Medical Mini-Clinic rather than some washed up baseball players.

Since we have known each other for some sixty odd years, poking fun is a badge of honor. I can say unequivocally this team did have a lot of diversity. I am reminded of Toby Keith’s hit song, ” I Love This Bar “. Among the original team, there were major league baseball players, one NFL wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, a fireman, several teachers, government executive, banker and a successful Sporting Goods Store owner to name a few. Probably the single most important bond for this group was the similarity in our upbringing. Ninety percent came from blue collar working families. There were a few privileged players but the class status never became a problem. The old saying, ” There is no ( i ) in team.

For sure with facetime, zoom, skype, and smartphones staying in touch with friends is readily available. However for this small group after sixty years of friendship a hug, fist pump, or just eye to eye contact makes is so surreal. These are truly my BFF’s.

Be safe.