A smile with a memory

I have a beautiful picture of a bellanca plane hanging in my living room. This picture brings back so many memories of some friends I miss. This plane was our first airplane ride and it was great. Such a pretty plane that had been redone with crushed green velvet seats, painted green, yellow and white, but the thing about this plane was its owner.

Trying to describe him in just a paragraph will be hard. He was one of the most, arrogant, know it all, obnoxious man I had ever met. I did not like people like this and I did not like him. Met him and his wife at church when my son was around four or five months old. This man had to be the center of attention and could make you feel very uncomfortable . He loved to sing and sing loudly, I have rolled my eyes so much at him it's a wonder my eyes are even back in the right place. If you needed a joke this was the man to go to, but you had to be careful, he could tell ones that were not so nice. 

I bet your thinking why are your writing about someone like that, we'll let me tell ya. One day at a fellowship we were having outside, he came sat next to me and made me laugh so hard that something in me just clicked with him. Yep he became one of my best friends. I found underneath that smart mouth of his was a good hearted man, he loved all animals and he would try and help anyone. It's like he had to be on all the time but when you caught him on a serious note he was ok. Oh my did we argue, all the time, we disagreed because as I said earlier his mouth got him into trouble . He was a mayor in his years, worked with the police and then owner of a heat and air business. 

He and his wife had a great since of humor, so much fun to be with. They showed my family things we would have not experienced early on. From flying to going to restaurants to making sure we saw the ocean. These two were like grandparents to my kids. Went to most all ball games, birthdays just what ever for my kids. My son and him were close, and of course at games he would embarrass my daughter, but they were there.  I love these two people. It wasn't easy in the beginning but it worked out in the end.

I really miss my friend, he was greatest supporter and my biggest annoyance. He would encourage me and understand things no one else could. So many people say men and women can't be friends, and in most casses this is true, but he was my friend, very unconventional because of people looking for the bad.  I still can't believe I ever liked this man that was over 20 years older than me and made me so irritated a lot, but for some reason we were. I'm glad for the seasons we had. 

People touch our lives sometimes but a second, and that second is what makes us feel something. 

My friend died a few years ago and it's funny how some of the things just popped in my head looking at this picture. His wife moved away but I'm so happy we still talk often. We get caught up in all our drama and she still will say something to me that he would have said. This is my smile for the day, a memory of some some who cared enough.