I had a surprise Facetime call from an old friend yesterday, having not seen his face for 50 years. It was fun to rehash some of our high school experiences and college adventures, including the drive we made together to California. He just retired from his dental practice, a doctorial accomplishment that I once thought was futile. I did not apply myself much in class, satisfied with B’s, while he always worked hard for C’s. However, he found his way into the Army and got through medical school, finishing his career in the incarceration system. 

Our upbringing was in sharp contrast, as he held down numerous jobs to pay for schooling, while I coasted on the coattails of my unselfish parents. We were in the concert choir together, but he had much more talent. Alan was also more athletic and confident, despite growing up in a lower-class neighborhood with parents who were separated while enduring the loss of two of their sons. I had a solid family relationship and lived in a desirable sub-division with little to want for in life. 

Alan’s cars were always a work in progress, but he bought them himself. The brown Jeep finally broke down, so he purchased a rusted-out Renault. He reminded me yesterday that we were originally going to drive that car to California, but it fell apart on his way to pick me up. Instead, we “borrowed” my dad’s Galaxy 500, with somewhat deceptive intentions of going camping at the Indiana dunes. However, Alan was still determined to go cross-country and must have convinced me to follow his dream. As he recalled, I started driving West and apparently never relinquished the wheel. He felt that as much as I liked to drive back then, I should have been a trucker. I’ve certainly lost that appeal in my golden years.

Our quick, pass-through Las Vegas was the only time in life Alan’s ever been there. On the other hand, I’ve been fortunate to go there on at least fourteen additional occasions. In fact, my wife and I are headed there again next week where we were married twenty-two years ago at the Bellagio. During our marriage, she also finagled a Vegas business trip without me.

It was fun thinking back to my time together with Alan. Our conversation lasted well over an hour, with hopefully more talks in the future, after I have a chance to digest some the many details he remembered, that I’ve sadly long forgotten.