A couple of weeks ago I met up with my best friend to go hit some golf balls and relax in Phoenix Az. I actually felt like I was going to give him a good run for his money this time. My golf game had improved and after watching him on the driving range I felt I had the upper hand. On his first drive he didn't even make the ladies tee and the fun began. What followed was about 4 holes of my button pushing and all out competitiveness. By the 12th hole I had gone into a tailspin and swore I'd never play at the Wigwam again and my dear friend quietly added up the scorecard and just smiled at me. He didn't have to say a word. Anyone who knows me realizes I'm a force of nature. My big mouth and obnoxious behavior have been a part of my persona straight out of the womb. I am loud, relentless, and love to entertain myself in anyway possible usually at the expense of some unsuspecting person. I'm not a bad person I'm just not good at conforming. I need excitement even in the dullest of situations. I joke that when I'm older there will be no stopping me. I'll yell at pigeons using derogatory slurs probably wielding a cucumber or feces along the way........ See what I mean.
Mike has been putting up with this for 35 years people. Yes I said it correctly 35 years!!
Legend has it that this all started back in kindergarten. I basically asked Michael if he wanted to play with my superhero collection (which I wish I had kept) at his house after school.Upon leaving that day my mom and I discovered a missing Green Goblin boot. My mom came to the conclusion that I had lost it and tough toodles on me but I went on the offensive and swore Michael was the culprit and that he should be brought to justice. After kind interrogation from my mother to his it was decided that It was just lost. I swore he took it and wasn't very kind. Mike insisted he didn't take it and I walked home crying like a wounded soldier. I felt betrayed, alone and angry. Who am I kidding I was five!!! I just wanted my Green Goblin boot back!!
Geography wasn't a friend to our friendship. In our 14 block town, (Mike'sFamily) were on the far end of the world. Block 14 to be precise. My family lived on block 3. Thinking back now that alone is a testament to our friendship. 11 blocks on a Big Wheel or Green Machine isn't easy. We did it everyday. Ohh yes the Green Goblin boot........
Crying all the way home with mom I always used to climb this one hill by the house at the end of my block and roll down it. I'm sure the homeowner was thrilled. Anyway, sobbing and heartbroken I glanced at the hill I always had conquered knowing under the circumstances I wasn't going to do so. Wait a minute!!! Are you kidding me?? My Green Goblin boot was there on the grass I swear. Now I'm not going to get weird but this boot was about 3 inches long and it was dark and I found it. Unbelievable!! Victory!! Not quite. My mother quickly turned me around and we headed right back to apologize. Mike and his mom were gracious and a friendship was forged. I could write a novel with stories of lore that would make War & Peace look like well
War & Peace. I decided just to grab a few of the old pics to do the justice. It's funny I have a million of them with Mike and I side by side. It got so bad that by high school most of our friends always joked we were gay (not that there is anything wrong with that!!) The truth
is we were connected at the hip and even though we are 3000 miles away and I see him about once a year we are still connected.
It's hard not to well up a bit reflecting on how blessed I've been in the friend department. still even with the advent of Facebook I am still guilty of not checking in as I should. Michael is not even on Facebook. Yet he will always hold a special place in my heart until I'm no longer. He has been loyal.He has instilled in me values that I use hourly and most importantly provides me an anchor whenever my ship starts to drift. I joked with him the other day. We've always related life to skiing. I looked at him and said "well were off the lift now buddy another 40 or 50 years and this will be over". He looked at me and laughed. "Going downhill is the fun part! the question my friend is how are you going to ski it"
The truth is with people like Michael William Feltman it's been one hell of a run. To my compadre and dearest trailblazer. You are A Best Man indeed.
