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Making Some Friends Along the Way
I'll be honest -- I can think of a ton of things that are better to do than hang around a bar in the afternoon watching five televisions, playing Quick Draw and sipping on suds. But everything in moderation, I say, and as long as it's not a daily routine, once in awhile it can be a fun change of pace. And you never know who you might run into.
That's what's happened in my last two stops at one of my favorite refreshments stands. There I was on the Fourth of July having some sodas with my brother with visions of hot wings dancing in my head.
We were having some fine conversations with some of the other customers when in comes my friend, the ever-popular Len Skillan. With him was a tall neatly attired gentleman that I didn't know. Len hopped on to the stool next to me and his friend took the other vacant spot to Len's left.
After a few minutes of cordial chit-chat Len introduces his friend, a fellow by the name of Tim Cunningham. As soon as I heard the name I gave Len's friend a closer look. By golly, it was Tim Cunningham, who worked at the Press-Republican back in the 1980s.
Tim hasn't aged much since those days and he looks very much the same. He hasn't added a ponytail or gained twenty pounds or lost his hair or turned grey or traded in his neatly-pressed trousers for jeans with holes in the knees.
But even though I've grown a ponytail, added some pounds, lost some hair, turned greyer and wear jeans with holes in the knees, Tim remembered me from those years when I wrote a column called "Where Are They Now?" for the Press-Republican sports department. He had many questions to ask about the newspaper and its personnel.
Tim, who left the Press-Republican in 1991, now lives in Austin, Texas. A family reunion brought him to New York State and he figured he'd arrive back East a few days early so that he could visit Len. It was great to see Tim after all these years.
And today I was enjoying lunch at the same establishment when in walks my longtime friend, former colleague, former boss, Paul Dingman. Paul retired as the principal of Stafford Middle School in January 2004. Since then he's been working in real estate and enjoying his free time back in the construction field, helping family and friends build camps and whatnot.
Alongside Paul is a young gentleman, and they take the two spots just to my right at the bar. Paul and I immediately start updating our lives, recapping the last few months. There are always plenty of stories when Paul and I run into each other.
Paul then introduces me to his sidekick and real estate partner, John Fowler. The Fowler name rings a bell, so I ask if he ever heard of Dennis and Mary Fowler. He said, "Which Dennis and Mary?"
I found that odd, but he later explained there are two couples named Dennis and Mary Fowler. I added, "Well, the Dennis Fowler and Mary Desotelle who went to OLVA."
He smiled. "They're my father and mother," he said.
I shook my head. "I graduated with them." How nice to meet their son. I haven't seen Dennis Fowler since high school graduation, and for Mary it's been nearly as long. While Paul and John enjoyed their lunches, I asked John about his parents and family. I found out that John had graduated from Ausable Valley Central School.
Just two little moments that could easily have been forgotten. But, without a doubt, I felt my life was a little richer seeing Tim after all those years, and meeting John for the first time.
It wouldn't have happened if I'd stayed home those days and watched TV or played around on eBay. Once in awhile it's good to get out and find a place to relax. You never know who you might run into. It's always nice to make some new friends along the way.
Comments
It's always great to meet people who you haven't seen in years. Recently we attended two weddings in Montreal. Invariably Plattsburgh enters the conversation. We were talking about our annual winter vacation to Florida, and how we flew out of Syracuse at about half of the cost it would have been from Ottawa! Worth the 3 hour drive. And the Montrealers would reply, we're flying out of Plattsburgh. Now Foxy these were two Jewish weddings, so I figure at least half of the crowd over 60 vacation in Florida! Your airport will be buzzing next winter. A Tim Horton's kiosk would do great there.
Posted by: Norm | July 25, 2008 9:00 PM