The Rescuer of Lost Friendships

 Just got off the phone with my friend Tom, whom I mentioned in the previous past. I hadn't spoken to him since 2004. He and his wfie live on Maui now. 

They left Portland four years ago because it was becoming a shithole, especially in his neighborhood, which is called Ladd's Addition. He spoke of the homeless people banging on his doors at night. They still own their house there and are going back to stay there for a month, and then flying to Minnesota for their son's graduation.

Our call lasted well over an hour. I felt over the Moon about it. It was exactly what I needed right now---for an old friend to get in contact with me unexpectedly. We both agreed the world is fucked up and everything is broken now. We both mourned over our inability to contact our mutual friend Adam, who goes through waves of the blues and cuts himself off from the world.  He doesn't return calls ever, said Tom. Tom and Adam used to hang out on a regular basis, but somehow they trailed off and they haven't spoken in years. That's hard for me to imagine, because I think of them as being close. 

Tom said he's going to try to get a hold of Adam. 

"I'll probably just have to go to his door and knock on it," said Tom.

"Dude, you read my mind!" I said.

"I was planning on going up there maybe this summer and going to his house, knocking on the door, and when he opens, hand him a manuscript I've written as I walk past him into the house, saying brusquely, I need your help." 

We reminisced about some of our old professors, and a differential equations class we both almost failed. 

 I suspect Tom and I will be in contact on a regular basis going forward. In fact, I'm going to make sure of it. Friends are a treasure and any friend I have at the moment, or recover, is going to remain my friend for the rest of our lives. No reason that can't happen.

This was one of the greatest days of my life, and twenty-four hours ago I didn't see it coming.

They invited us to come visit them in Maui and stay with them, and I could tell he was serious.