Sunday, July 15, 2012

No Regrets - Dear Friend


After posting yesterday’s blog,on my need to make Manwich, I received a personal note from an old friend, a comment regarding unrequited love. He had attached a very sad song.
 I sat this morning, organizing my desk, sorting through papers, tid-bits of notes that I jot down when I get ideas for writing, looking at old photographs. I had Sting playing my favorite album, a song played, the words were similar to that sad song he had sent.  I thought back to my freshman year.  I never knew how my friend felt.
I was young  and foolishly head over heals in love with his friend.  It was the reason I was so far from home at a college I had no business attending. When I was dumped, he stuck by me, taught me to play the guitar and was a big brother to me until I made my way back home to Virginia and another University.  We lost touch and somehow reconnected through Social Media, you know the story.
I didn’t always see the easy path and certainly didn’t see what was right in front of me back in the early 80’s.  Too blinded by being dumped, I never would have believed that this young man had feelings for me. 
We are cautioned constantly to plan for everything: look before you leap, buy life insurance, plan for your financial future.  We tell our children not to fall for the first girl/boy that comes along “they will break your heart.”  We cautiously tell them, remembering our own heartbreak.
Well what’s the fun in that?  We need these experiences to grow, to learn, to live.  I certainly did.  I learned several times.  Looking back I have a few regrets, the good out shines the bad by far.  I have 5 beautiful children and I would not have them had I not made some of those bad choices and then tougher choices.
I have chosen a much different path than that of my friend.  I am a different person now.  I have to keep moving forward, no looking back in regret.
You are right old friend, “it ended long before it could begin”.   No regrets.
Peace.  NEPB

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