701-365-0401 dwaale@gmail.com

I didn’t want to go to work today. My old friend is moving away. We met with another old friend for our last lunch. Then we shook hands and I hurried back to the office.

I have known my friend since 1965. My family moved right next door when we were both three. That’s 51 years. I don’t remember not knowing him.

We both moved around a lot when we were younger. And, somehow, we each ended up in Fargo. A happy coincidence.

So you come to a comfortable place. We might not see each other for weeks, or even a month or so. But sooner or later we would get together and slip into the same old rhythm. The conversation comes easy when talking to someone you played with the sandbox.

You have friends like that too. And it is easy to take them for granted because they will always be there…except they won’t.

There is a lot of comfort in an old friend. And I think maybe I owe a friend of 51 years more than a handshake.

So thanks for being my friend forever, Dan. I’ll see you later.

Your buddy, Dave