Childhoods Never Die

Strange, how you sit and watch one of your generation being eulogized. Sure, you feel the obvious sadness of losing someone forever that you held fondness for. But, the old nagging adage about how ''we are too young to go to funerals'' does apply to everyone at some point....... I just came back from a memorial service for a kid I once knew when I was a child. His name was John Roper and he and I are linked by that special town known as Des Plaines, Illinois. Now, I did not have any contact with John since high school, so, I cannot say we were close friends or even friends for thirty years. But, I do remember him with a smile from when we were kids. Because I practice the forgotten art of privacy, I will not disclose what happened to him. He was the same age as me, 48 years old. My memories of him are very warm. I remember a blond haired boy who loved cars and having fun. We kids used to all know each other in the old neighborhood, play ball with each other, and generally goof around a lot in class. He was a good kid, never mean or threatening to anyone. As an adult, I will say this, he encountered problems. And, those problems seemed to increase, by what I have heard. Hindsight is 20/20. Now, I wish I had stayed in contact with him. We have mutual friends. But, it was not to be. I wish him eternal peace in his new home........As I was listening to the service for him, my mind wondered. I thought of our childhoods. Some old neighborhood kids were at the service, including my brothers-in arms-, Rob Lindquist and Rob Steetz. These guys I proudly call my brothers. I would jump in front of a runaway train for these guys [ and, as anyone who grew up in Des Plaines knows, we have plenty of trains rolling through town ]. But, as I said, I also saw friendly faces that I haven't seen for years. My friends from childhood. Albert Einstein Elementary School and Friendship Junior High. We all went through the trenches of school together, we all played ding-dong-ditch and flashtag together. I have made many friends throughout the years as an adult--- and hope to make more--- but, there is something special about the kids you grew up with. There is the neighborhood bond, the cherished memories of when we were all young and the world was open to discovery and dreams. Anything was possible. We were gonna take over the world and remake it for the better. Of course, it did not happen. Reality hits all of us in the face and you deal with the shattered pieces of your dreams and hopes as best as you can. But, whenever I am around these people, I get a little special feeling, a touch back into the magical youth. Maybe, that is why I have never been too excited about high school reunions. While high school was a good time, by and large, it was too big, not like the intimacies that my previous schools had. High school was the first awakening to being a adult. Grammer school and junior high were still the childhood years, the last innocent time. A high school reunion would be ok, but a reunion of kids from my childhood would be ideal. I would run right away to that. I do not believe in living in the past, but, I do like to visit that past at times. And, these people are my time machine......... My concept of Heaven has many images. Naturally, we all will be reunited with our loved ones, forever in eternity. Yes, we will meet God and have all of our answers to life's questions answered. And, there will be the chance to meet all of the people that you always wanted to meet down here but couldn't. I will see Babe Ruth hit a homer. Abraham Lincoln will be giving the Gettysburg Address. Sinatra and the Rat Pack will be holding court at Heaven's Bar, where you can eat and drink as much as you can without having to worry about hangovers and gaining weight. There will be endless parties and good feelings of love......... And, I also believe that Heaven gives you the ability to relive your golden moments that you had on Earth. The joyous Christmas you had when you were ten. The first time you fell in love. Your parents holding you close. Great vacations and the special moments that are gone physically now but are swimming around in your soul. I like to think that those moments will be there for us again when we reach Heaven......... I also like to think that those old neighborhood friends of mine--- most still here but some are gone---- will be there. We will reawaken those old times. A time of not worrying about anything in life except being a kid. Laughing and smiling and no one hurting each other. The purity of a child's heart and their expressions of innocent life. That part of Heaven must exist........ I like to think my old neighborhood friend, John Roper, is in that world now. Someday, we will be joining you, John. Get the flashlights ready for tag.........