by Bruce McDaniel

Created on: July 23, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

It was the first day of school and there he was, sitting on a bench trying to figure out how to tie his shoes. We were 6 years old and it was the first day of first grade. I walked up and told him I could tie them for him and did (I eventually taught him how). We became instant friends. And were always doing something for one another. He and I were always together playing sports or doing other little boy things. We learned about sports together, had our favorite teams, and developed skills good enough to join teams in Jr high school. The only difference was he played midget league football and I played little league baseball. But we both played Jr high football as he was a good defensive end and I was halfback (because of my speed)! We always hung out together and where one was the other was there also. This lasted all the way through high school and after.

While in high school we worked at the same restaurant (our first job), we were busboys and got paid $1.60 and hour plus tips...that was minimum wage then (wow) how times have changed. We Practiced learning how to drive a car. Took our learner's tests on the same day and our driver's license test the same day. His first car was a blue comet and mine was a blue Chevy wagon.. After high school I went into the military and he went to work for the local power company.
We still fostered our friendship and upon my return continued hanging out. We went on dates with our girl friends and hung out with the boys at the local bar. Went to sporting events and always-watched football on the weekends. We played sandlot sports for years no matter what season it was, be it basketball, football, baseball or whatever. For two years once we both played on the same church basketball team. But as we got older the memorable tales of our childhood started sounding too familiar and eventually we quit talking about it...we drifted apart slowly as to the point that now I live in another state we are both married and have not been in contact for about 10 years and probably will never see one another again. The harsh reality is that we outgrew our friendship! Oh every once in a while one of us will hear about the other one and what is going on but we have not contacted one another and it just does not seem to be anywhere in the future. The little boys have grown up to be their own man and family ties that make it almost impossible to ever bring back in circle the friendship that was for so long built an strengthened by each. (added as an update)>>March 15th 2009 when I moved back to the home state we actually ran into each other at a gas station and he was shocked to see me in the area. He asked if I was jsut visiting, I said no, moved back. We promised to kick back some time and have a few cold ones and talk about the past...I look forward to it!

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