Fortunate Friend

Last week, I had a dream that included an old friend who I knew when I lived in NYC, prior to meeting Aimee. We had known each other in DC (before I moved to NYC, we worked at same company). We both grew up in adjoining towns in Connecticut (me until I was 14 years old), both moved to the same neighborhood in NYC, and there were other startling similarities between us, as people.

At that point in my life (NYC), I was on the skids. We're talking homeless (not cardboard homeless, but without residence), making basically no money, and living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. This friend helped me, by allowing me to sleep on his couch for eleven days, until I found a place (Aimee loves to describe the place I found). Had I not been the recipient of his help, I am not sure what I would have done. I would have done something though.

So anyway, I sent him a message, saying hello, telling him about the dream. In my correspondence, I had mentioned that I still felt indebted to him, for his friendship during a difficult time. He responded with the following:

"While I am flattered that you feel indebted to me it is not necessary. For where we were in our lives, I am fairly confident you'd have done the same for me if the roles were reversed. I think that, for where we both were in our lives, we were perfect together. Good friends, good drinking buddies, similar interests etc.. It was just a matter of good timing at {name of company we both worked for) and fate that you ended up in New York too. So again, it is the noblest form of flattery, but not necessary. I know that if I was ever in a pinch, who I could call.... and that's all I really need to know."

I listen to CSPAN every morning, while walking my dogs. I often switch the station because I am repelled by human nature. Experiences like the one I allude to above, allow me to switch the channel back, hopeful that I may hear something good.... as I cannot be deterred from believing there are good people in the world.