Missing Old Friends…

I got to see Tina earlier this week. She called me at work and she, Glen, and I conspired to meet for lunch over at the Beef O’Bradys at Carolina Forest. It was my first time there and I really like the place. Didn’t care for the mustard on the Reuben sandwich, but next time I’ll know to order it without mustard.
We spent a lot of time talking about her new job and the things that have gone on at my workplace since she left. That’s an epic in itself, and maybe one day I’ll write about the wonders of HTC, but this isn’t the post for that. Anyway, it was good to see how happy Tina was at her new job and how much she is learning over there.

Then, this morning I got a surprise phone call from Vic. Seems like he got the day off for Veteran’s Day, and he decided to make the most of the long weekend and drive back from Savannah. He told me that he would be back in town for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the weekend before he gets shipped overseas. At least he does get some time to be with his family before spending 6 months or so playing in the sand. It was good to hear from him even if it was just for a few minutes.

Hearing from these guys made me a little melancholy thinking about how lonely it’s going to be for the next few months at work. I figure that Tina, Vic, and Glen are the closest work-buddies I have. Now Tina’s left and Vic’s gone for the next 8-9 months. Glen will be spending less time at work pretty soon for personal reasons. Of course, my actual work will keep me busier than I want to be, but sometimes it’s the breaks from work with the bantering with these guys that really keep me going. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy and excited for Tina, and Vic and Glen are absolutely doing what they should(Actually, Glen should go ahead and take the time off now). It’s just the prospects of any actual fun at work look pretty bleak. Not to mention I have depended on these guys to keep me sane.
You see… In my late teens to late twenties, I had a group of friends. We were like family-In fact, I considered them my family. Well, time moved on, and as we got older, most of them moved away to bigger and better things. One moved away and came back, another finally settled down with a good woman, and somehow, as close as we all were… we all lost touch. Of course, this is nobody’s fault. Priorities in life change as you grow older. I mean, I settled down and started a family of my own and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I just wish I could see these guys more often, hear from them once in a while…

How does all this tie in? Well I guess my work-buddies had started to become like that other group of friends that I had. Mind you, we hardly did anything outside of work, but I could sense a closeness that was beginning to form. Something that I’d hate to lose - again.

So - I guess I just needed to tell them how much they(all of them) really mean to me, personally. So if any of them are out there reading this… I miss you guys.

Tags: Friends