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My Friend.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about a friend of mine, I won't go into names cause I am sure he doesn't want the attention.
I met him about 25 years ago, both of us proud cocks working at getting rich or die trying. The meeting was through a mutual acquaintance and I can't speak for him, but in my case the meeting was thorny and reserved. We were different people pulling in our own direction both believing the other was a bit of an ass. We met on several occasions mostly at the mutual friends place, he is a very gregarious type personality and was always doing stuff at his home so we would often be both invited, but still this distance remained.
I got divorced, probably one of the most traumatic events in my life, I left town to escape the fall out, I won't lie, I ran, I just could not put enough space between myself and all the damage we had caused each other. In doing so I left everything, but shouldered all the blame and abuse, the lies and deluded self deceit of my ex spouse. I have slowly build a small life, hand to mouth and most of it hasn't come easy. 5 years ago my girlfriend died in a skydiving accident, and it knocked the very foundation of who I am. What I am saying is things changed and so did the person I am.
Now getting back to my friend, with my departure, I lost touch will everyone, and as life does it has dealt him some very heavy blows. He was diagnosed with cancer, and he battled through it with the love of his wife and two boys, I saw pics and he was at deaths door more than once, and the suffering this family went through is indescribable. He beat it, and came out stronger for it, and has become a powerhouse sportsman, a real example to people, but life had not finished fucking with him. A year ago he was involved in a terrible accident that left his body shattered, the doctors said he probably would not walk again, at best he would have to use a cane. From a distance I watched his recovery, the pain and anguish he and his family went through again, and all I could think about was how fortunate I have been.
We met a couple of years ago and I had noticed a huge change in him, he had become very different, he had focused his attention on living his life and sharing it with his family instead of directing it all outward, and we began to rekindle a sort of friendship.
He and his wife came to see me a couple of weeks ago, and it's the first time I have seen him since the accident. I was so happy to see him walking and even competing again, to just spend time with him and see the strength of character and humility in him was amazing. He's one of those people that just make you want to be a better person.

So now that I have bored you with this story, you probably want to know what message I have taken from this or what you should take note of in this story, and the truth is that there isn't anything, life will deal with you however it chooses, so if there is anything you should take from this, is perhaps how you choose to deal with those knocks. As for me, I have taken what I needed from this and done what I should have with it by sharing it with you. Question is, what will you do with it?


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