Memories

When bad news is lurking in the shadows I dread when the phone rings. Inevitably it does and the dreaded bad news becomes a reality. Sadly, I just lost a very good friend. This friend has been around from the time I left Hungary, which was 65 years ago. And that is my entire adult life. He lived on the other side of the planet but that did not stop us to stay close.

We talked frequently, we kept up on our family situations and our health conditions. From the time we parted company in 1957 we only met once in Hungary but was a great meeting. It was good to see each other. In 1996 his son and new bride visited us in New York and that left me with good memories.

He was a good man, a good husband and father. He always spoke proudly about his son and grandsons. When we talked on the phone, he was always very inquisitive. What are you doing, how is the weather over there, what is for dinner  etc, etc?

If we hinted that there was a health issue and a doctor's visit was scheduled, he always called to inquire about the results. He cared! Thanks to technology we lately communicated through facetime and that was almost as good as being there in person.

That dreaded phone call came Wednesday afternoon from his son. Even though it was not unexpected it still came as a shock. For me, it was like I lost a close family member. My wife loved him for his care and wit and took this loss very hard. They were very close. Whenever my wife went on a long distance trip, regardless of the 16 hours' time difference he stayed with her on the phone, and they were talking and talking about nothing and everything.

There were nine of us friends who stuck together after leaving Hungary. Not all childhood friends, but friends from way back. Now there are only the six of us left.

Sad, very sad.