There is No Friend like "The Chopper"

Childhood is a time when many of us develop friendships that carry us through our entire lives. Although there are times when the communication may fade; however, when it resumes, it seems like you never lost touch at all. You simply pick up the story line and extend it for another chapter. The longer you've known someone, the easier it appears to be. After all, who other than your siblings learned to walk, talk, and eat with you, except your childhood best friend?

My childhood friend has been known as Charlie, Chuck, and then came "the Chopper". The name changes reflect the various points along the time line, but the basic elements have remained unchanged. We met when we were about 3-4 because our mothers knew each other. In those days there were no play groups or play dates, just play. We played with trucks in the dirt, ate cookies on the stoop, and made up games with our own rules. What else would you expect from a couple of kids?

Our paths took us to the same grade school and for 5 more years, we were inseparable, except for fishing season when Charlie was off with his friend, John and a can of corn. That's when you could find him at Bailey's pond casting his line tirelessly, hoping to land the catch of the day. We lost touch during those final years of grade school, but the foundation was firmly in place for the future.

At the start of the basketball season during our Freshman year in high school, we reconnected. There had been a significant snow storm during the day, and after b-ball practice, we gathered at Chuck's house for an evening of tobogganing. That set the wheels in motion again for what was to become another chapter that was called high school. Whenever you saw one of us, you saw the other, and that's the way it was for those 4 years, and after HS, it was off to college where we roomed together all 4 years. We had good times and bad and managed to survive in spite of it all. The stories are endless indeed.

Now that he has reached the age of "54", a number that he believed had an eerie presence in his life, his number in football during HS; I would like to wish him Happy Birthday. We have spent the better part of our lives playing together, going to school together, living together, and sharing the ups and downs of life as friends. That night of tobogganing reset the stage for our lifelong friendship. Without hesitation, I'd do it all over again. Happy Birthday "Chopper"!