Spotlite on...Drew
This post has been fifteen years in the works. Let me tell you the story of Drew. I had recently moved to Columbus and didn't have many close friends. I spent a lot of time online just seeing who was out there and who might want to meet for coffee, talk, walks, maybe something physical, but mostly I was trying to avoid the loneliness of a new city. I can't tell you which website or chat room I was in, and I'm not sure I would tell if I could, but a conversation began.
After chatting a while, Drew and I agreed to meet and see a movie. When I met him, I immediately thought he was good looking. We bought tickets to see "Office Space" and went in. The ticket taker recognized him and said, "I thought you had left!" Drew told him that he hadn't (obviously,) but would in just a couple weeks.
After we were seated, I asked him about this. I can't remember now if he flat out told me or made me wait, but he was planning a move to California and would be gone within two weeks. After the movie, we went to the store. We had decided to go back to my house for a drink, but I didn't have anything. He got a bottle of vodka and I got a bottle of wine. Sometimes, I think back to the days when I didn't know what vodka was and long for them, but not often!
Somehow within the next ten days, Drew and I spent a lot of time together. I spent a night at his house where I learned that he had a baby daughter. We watched the Grammys together. "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry (remember them?) was nominated that year...I gifted to him a CD (remember those?) of Grammy nominated songs that year. That night, I learned he loves photos. The tables in his house were covered with frames-each with a special picture. He had a story for every one. I think one of the saddest days of my life was the morning I watched his U-Haul pull out of the driveway and head west.
After he moved to California, I had need of a new job, and he, from California, offered a reference for Wendy's where he was a store manager before he left. He's had an exciting career arc in foodservice, retail, and banking...always moving up-never laterally. I cannot, in brief Spotlite blog, describe his amazing and thoroughly riveting story. Suffice it to say, he's rubbed an elbow or two with the rich and famous. Perhaps Kathy Lee Gifford will one day write a musical of his life.
Since then, I have seen him twice. He came home a couple years later, with his daughter, and stayed with me the night before leaving to go back to California. Another time, he came home and spent some time with me and met Dana. We were at a small bar in the Short North with a group of friends. That's the night that the quote from Will and Grace, "Am I outside?" became part of my vernacular. Dana and I still use that phrase, and every time it makes me laugh...and think of Drew.
Drew is someone that I can talk to once a year, and we pick up right where we left off. I have a lot of friends that I can do that with, but additionally, I admire Drew. He has done so much and taken so many risks that have paid off. I wish I had his easy, laid back way and ability to make friends with so many people. Sometimes, there's a connection made with someone in a matter of days that can turn into a life long friendship. It doesn't happen often, but if it does, one is very lucky, indeed. I am very lucky, indeed.
Drew is someone that, while I don't get to see him often, I am proud to call a friend. We spoke just before Christmas this past year and caught up on life in general. The baby daughter I met when I first met Drew is now driving and doing college visits. I don't know when he got so old! He told me that he doesn't care to talk on the phone for long periods of time, and this was two hours into our catch-up conversation. It wasn't until the 5 hour and 30 minute mark that we actually hung up the phone. What if? is a question that can be asked, and sometimes should be. But, in this instance, we have had a 15-year friendship that is unique and special. There's no reason to second guess the past. I love Drew for support he's shown and unconditional friendship he's given. Everyone would do well to have a friend like him on the roster.
After chatting a while, Drew and I agreed to meet and see a movie. When I met him, I immediately thought he was good looking. We bought tickets to see "Office Space" and went in. The ticket taker recognized him and said, "I thought you had left!" Drew told him that he hadn't (obviously,) but would in just a couple weeks.
After we were seated, I asked him about this. I can't remember now if he flat out told me or made me wait, but he was planning a move to California and would be gone within two weeks. After the movie, we went to the store. We had decided to go back to my house for a drink, but I didn't have anything. He got a bottle of vodka and I got a bottle of wine. Sometimes, I think back to the days when I didn't know what vodka was and long for them, but not often!
Somehow within the next ten days, Drew and I spent a lot of time together. I spent a night at his house where I learned that he had a baby daughter. We watched the Grammys together. "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry (remember them?) was nominated that year...I gifted to him a CD (remember those?) of Grammy nominated songs that year. That night, I learned he loves photos. The tables in his house were covered with frames-each with a special picture. He had a story for every one. I think one of the saddest days of my life was the morning I watched his U-Haul pull out of the driveway and head west.
After he moved to California, I had need of a new job, and he, from California, offered a reference for Wendy's where he was a store manager before he left. He's had an exciting career arc in foodservice, retail, and banking...always moving up-never laterally. I cannot, in brief Spotlite blog, describe his amazing and thoroughly riveting story. Suffice it to say, he's rubbed an elbow or two with the rich and famous. Perhaps Kathy Lee Gifford will one day write a musical of his life.
Since then, I have seen him twice. He came home a couple years later, with his daughter, and stayed with me the night before leaving to go back to California. Another time, he came home and spent some time with me and met Dana. We were at a small bar in the Short North with a group of friends. That's the night that the quote from Will and Grace, "Am I outside?" became part of my vernacular. Dana and I still use that phrase, and every time it makes me laugh...and think of Drew.
Drew is someone that I can talk to once a year, and we pick up right where we left off. I have a lot of friends that I can do that with, but additionally, I admire Drew. He has done so much and taken so many risks that have paid off. I wish I had his easy, laid back way and ability to make friends with so many people. Sometimes, there's a connection made with someone in a matter of days that can turn into a life long friendship. It doesn't happen often, but if it does, one is very lucky, indeed. I am very lucky, indeed.
Drew is someone that, while I don't get to see him often, I am proud to call a friend. We spoke just before Christmas this past year and caught up on life in general. The baby daughter I met when I first met Drew is now driving and doing college visits. I don't know when he got so old! He told me that he doesn't care to talk on the phone for long periods of time, and this was two hours into our catch-up conversation. It wasn't until the 5 hour and 30 minute mark that we actually hung up the phone. What if? is a question that can be asked, and sometimes should be. But, in this instance, we have had a 15-year friendship that is unique and special. There's no reason to second guess the past. I love Drew for support he's shown and unconditional friendship he's given. Everyone would do well to have a friend like him on the roster.
Labels: Spotlite Series
posted by Dave @ 6:16 PM
1 Comments:
It is nice to know about your friendships. I admire your candor and restraint in your posts.
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