The 1986 movie Stand By Me ends with the line,
“I
never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus,
does anyone?”
Stand By Me is a movie that resonates with people. I don’t know all the reasons why but when I
watch it, it’s like I can “feel” what it was like to be that age again – to have
those friends. And remembering back to
when I was twelve, I have to say I agree with the author’s sentiment.
There’s something about being around that age that’s difficult
to explain. Your friends are everything
to you. You worry about what they think
about you, you constantly have “stuff” you need to talk about or do, and you
share secrets that could ruin your 7th grade reputation. But you share them anyway. You do it because it’s your friend and you
trust them. Every day feels brand new
even if you’re doing the exact same thing you did yesterday. You can have fun doing absolutely nothing if
you’re with your friend.
My best friend when I was twelve was Richard. To me, he was like the Zack Morris of our
neighborhood. The coolest guy I
knew. When I reflect back on those days
it seems like a lifetime ago. A time
when dirt bikes were Harley Davidson’s and pine cones were hand grenades. But when I think of Richard, I still see the
kid I grew up knowing. Times change and
people move on, but traces of those friendships remain.
It’s
like you can offer up a sly wink that says…I know how
goofy
you used to be.
So, connect with your childhood friend. It’s easier now than ever before. Just say “Hey, I was thinking about the time
you licked my German Shepherd,” or whatever your story is. I KNOW they’d be glad to hear from you.
