Editorial: The value of friendship and remembering what it’s worth

For most of the week, I struggled to come up with an editorial about what I was going to write about. Fortunately, a chance meeting on Tuesday when I went to vote provided me the inspiration I needed.

As I stepped out of my car, I went to place an order for some food before casting my vote. As I did, I heard a voice that I was familiar with. It was one of my closest friends along with his parents heading into the Charles City Courthouse to cast their vote.

It meant a lot to me to see one of my closest friends after such a long time. Understandably, as people get older, friendships drift apart due to a variety of reasons. From marriages to children to relocation, friendship can sometimes be placed on the backburner. That is when I realized that there are times I have to make a better effort to spend time with my friends.

When I saw my friend emerge from their vehicle with his parents, it reminds me of all the times I visited his home and was welcomed by his family into their household. It developed a bond and brought back memories of just sitting in his room playing video games to going out and shooting basketball in his yard or grabbing another close friend of ours and going to the movies. It also brought back memories of how gracious I am for that friendship not only from him and my other friend, but his parents as well.

Seeing them together made me think if I was making an attempt to keep our friendship intact. Prior to that chance encounter, the last time I saw him was in the summer of 2017 at a social event. Before that, it was February 2016 for a movie. It made me realize that I wasn’t really being as good as a friend as I know as I could be. Not because I didn’t want to be, but that because of “growing up,” drifting apart hadn’t made me aware or conscious to the fact.

The biggest impact though was speaking with him and his family after voting. His father is a veteran who served the country and his mother is always as pleasurable to converse with. The three of them in one place just echoed sentiments and brought back my appreciation and love for that friendship.

My message in this editorial is that when you spend time and go your separate ways, do better than what I did to make friendships really mean something. Make an effort to continue to see your buddies, even if it’s once or twice a month. Life and situations may derail plans, but that doesn’t excuse you from making that effort.