Monday, March 4, 2024
My dear Ken, or Randy. You went by so many nicknames that I never knew exactly what to call you! Mostly I think of you as simply friend, cousin, and fellow traveler.
We were born cousins but never met until middle age. I always enjoyed our visits, but they were too few and far between. Your life went one way and mine went another – except when we were in Japan at the same time, but neither of us knew the other was there. We wouldn't meet until years later.
The song says You Can't Make Old Friends. I'm glad we had the chance to become old friends. I'll miss you. I'll miss your sense of humor. I'll miss your sense of duty that led you to give up your chosen life to come home to Virginia and take care of your mother. I'll miss the anticipation of possibly visiting with you again. Time and distance were not always in our favor.
You and I were among the family adventurers, the ones who pushed the borders, who dared go further than the next county over. I believe you were the first of our family to graduate from college and I was the second. We broke so many boundaries, you and I, and good for us. They will not see our like again.
Rest easy old friend, for you were always more friend than relative to me. I will remember you kindly and I would be very happy if some day we should meet again in the sweet by and by.
