Those Were the Days & These Are The Times

I had the pleasure of seeing this friend of mine Pat for the first time in two years.  This morning when I woke up and went to have a shower I knew something was wrong as my left side did not feel right.  Getting out of the shower.  I could see that my bottom lip was huge.  I thought perhaps this was what is called a Bell’s Palsy which most often is something which take place with the entire side on ones face.  Ironically yesterday I had fine outcome with my doctor.  So I looked it over as well as checked out the status of my left side with my hand and then as ironic as it may sound, my friend Pat had arrived.  Pat does allot of lecturing over and above his profession of being a pharmacist.  Probably more so with the fact that while roommates I remember how he thought of going in to be a doctor after he was married.

He looked it over before we headed out and apparently it was merely an inflammation that can happen.  Now that was a coincidence as if it was not for his visitation from where he resides.  I would have been either to a clinic after seeing how things were after a period of time.  There was one occasion which for some unknown reason I did have what is called a Bells Palsy.  And most often one just allows it to play out – which at that time I did.  But fortunately it subsided within three hours.  We had an extended I mean e x t e n d e d talk on what had transpired within the last year.  Pat has always been a very realistic person. 

We spoke of my folks as well as for the first time he spoke of his own.  He unlike some other friends has always been more of a thoughtful person.  He had a second marriage and what Pat thrives on is his work.  I had the feel that he was not entirely pleased with some matters but we joked of the past as well he was asking me what some of our old gang was doing.  I told him that I am as much out of the loop when it comes to many of them as I have never caught up with some of those which were in university with us.  It’s kind of funny how you can have those good laughs with regards to some of the things that we did – especially within the weekends when we were younger.  And then engage in speaking as friends within current times.

Pat’s parents were both killed in a car accident before I knew him.  He and his sister Barb were taken in by his aunt’s family. I think that Barb was much more affected by the ordeal as she around 8 years of age.  Where Pat was only 5, yet I think within his twenties he literally was on the go with more than the average.  One at 17 does not work within their studies as much as Pat did.  Yet seemingly, he took something which might have weighed heavy on him and decided to place his thoughts into his studies - which from my perspective were a good manner of going about it.  But come Friday, the first think Pat would say is, "Where are we heading to tonight".

It’s funny how you make an array of friendships and each one has their own significance.  Pat was very easy going and still is.  The way we met was within the first year of university.  I came from another small town and left with some friends after getting settled in and Pat must have arrived a few hours later.  I had left one of my summer shirts which had the letters AIKIDO on it and after we came to know each other as roomies – he told me of how petrified he was as he thought that he may have been placed in with some sort of biker.  But that was then and ironically some things never really change despite this element of time.

After finishing off at one university during the summer there was a group of us which literally had more fun than one can mention.  Yet within the now, we shared some areas of which are with more thought – yes we G R O W E D up but still we are young at heart.  After I met with Pat, I had some of those weekend rituals to do.  Mind you I was not speaking any longer from the side of my mouth as Patrick was right.  There are some friends that remain with you your entire life time.  Pat is one of those, in fact I would dare say that Pat is probably the most down to earth and sensible friends.  He dropped me off and then indicated to me that he will keep in touch as there are some things which are happening within his area of life.  Now that left me thinking as I could surmise what it was but that isn’t really that important.  What’s most is that since the age of 17 regardless of where I was and for that matter where he was we always have kept in touch. 

I think there is something to be said for that. During our discussion we both shook our heads after our talk as Pat said, where did all these years go by and how they went so fast.  I replied with that was then and this is now.  And we left it at JUST THAT.  Pat took his first five years and went way up North and now has been settled for the last 15 years with his own pharmacy in Drumhellar, Alberta.