Like Being at Your Own Funeral

With just 15 days to go before we leave for Ethiopia, Jane and I are having some unique things happen to us. Since we plan to be away at least two years, we need to put our affairs in order: bank accounts, insurance bills, selling the cars, etc. This has forced us to have some conversations we might never otherwise had with friends and family. I'll mention some of these from time to time in the future.
We have both had the chance to check in with old friends who, because of distance, business, or just the stuff of day to day living, we get out of touch with. You know what I mean, you know they're alive, you hear about them through mutual friends, but you just don't make contact. Harry is one of those friends for me.
A couple weeks ago, I made the long trek (about an hour away) to Gurnee, Illinois, to see Harry before I left. We've been friends for much more than 20 years, one of those friendships that has always been up front, honest, and personal. In fact, I had a small part in getting a men's group started in his church and am pleased to say they're still going strong.
Harry's older, I noticed. He's been through some tough times personally and it shows. He's grown and become wiser. Tough times do that, if you let them.
Anyway, Harry reminded me of all the opportunities I've had to meet really great people in my lifetime. And even after some years of not keeping up, the friendships are still there, still strong, waiting for a phone call, email, letter. It's sort of like going to your own funeral. Since you're going away for a time, it's a loss and people like to say good things, assuming you're worth saying good things about. And they're true, the things they say about you. Maybe I've been a better friend than it sometimes feels. It's good to know.
I want to say two things more today:
1. If we (Jane and I) haven't kept in touch with you and you're reading this, we want to change that. Leave a comment here, find us on FaceBook and give me a poke, I don't care how. We want to reestablish contact while we can still hear you, before the funeral. Don't wait too long!
2. Got a friend out there you haven't been in touch with lately? Change it today, now. Pick up the phone, drop a note, send a message. Who knows, you may be attending your own funeral one of these days. It's better than the alternative!