Today I lost a friend of 48 years. Javier and I met when we were both 14 years old, attending high school in Miami.
I guess we clicked because we were nerdy in the same way. We were each other’s support through rough spots.
I liked hanging out with him because he was hilarious. I used to encourage us to go on double dates because I knew my date would have a great time.
Sometimes it was exasperating to be his friend; he always had to be pushed to do things. And sometimes he would get on my nerves like a brother would.
When either of us was in crisis, the other would suggest a “drinky-vous.”
Through the years, that was a lot of drinks. We got each other through breakups, divorces, family crises, and more. We would celebrate special occasions with dinners out at different places.
One time, after I had left Miami for chiropractic school, his brother Ary called me and asked if he could send him up to Georgia to see me. He had had a fairly nasty breakup and “needed a change of scenery.”
I said, “Sure, tell him to come up!”
He didn’t have much to do, so he hung out with me and my new friends at Life University and eventually decided he was going to become a chiropractor too.
We had a bunch of adventures together. Some were just wild. Maybe I will share some when I am feeling less numb from the news.
As he aged, he became somewhat of a grump. It was harder to convince him to do anything.
I also realize now that in all those years we probably never complimented each other on anything.
So here goes:
Thanks for being my friend for all these years. It was a blast. You’re a fucking asshole for not taking better care of yourself.
There!
See you on the other side, dude!
