Hmm... here comes a stark contrast to my normally funny filled posts. This time it's a sentimental one and seeing as this is the most accessible way to get my thoughts down it's going here and you all can read it if you are so inclined.
This post is to my childhood best friend Taylor Hodgson who died last year, December 19th, one day before my birthday at the age of 17 in a drunk driving car accident.
One thing that shocked me about his death is that it didn't shock me. It didn't even really bother me... sure it made me sad, but not really sad that he was dead, just sad that a death had occurred. But tonight, tonight I was thinking about everything he did for me and every bit of evidence of his impact on my childhood, on me as a person, on my home... on everything. So here goes Taylor, here is my list of things I remember about you:
I remember how you threw dirt in my eye and we magically became friends. It was hilarious way to meet and probably the only thing I remember of my life ages zero to four.
I remember building a fort out in the wilderness area behind your house and living there for a week. Living on our own.
I remember skipping rocks in my pool. The crack in the cement surrounding the pool is still there from when you fell.
The burn marks are still in my carpet from when we played with your lighter.
The hole in my wall (while patched) is still visible, a reminder of my 12th birthday party.
My basketball hoop is still bent from the time we used the trampoline to play "Slam-Dunk-o-Rama."
I remember staying at your house for days on end and feeling like one of the family. The brown recluse, peeps, frozen sodas, chocolate gum, land mines, water balloons, giant slingshot, skateboarding, hide and go seek, backyard capers, the "crack tree," the ghosts, dirt wars, capture the flag, TD, french toast and powdered sugar. I remember almost everything.
I remember the time we got into a fight because we didn't like the rules of a game we were going to play.
I remember the way you told me to just act myself when I was trying to be something I wasn't.
Skipping school
lighting firecrackers
sneaking out late at night
trick or treating (stealing candy)
flashlight battles
toilet papering houses
even that time we went slashing tires (we were so bad)
Spunky, the best rat ever. I remember burying him in your backyard when he died.
We discovered girls together! Taught eachother everything there is to know about them! (or so we thought)
We had some great times. But one thing I don't remember...
I don't remember why we stopped talking. Why we stopped hanging out about four years ago. Why did the fun have to stop? You didn't move away, I didn't move away, we didn't get in a fight, we had no reason to stop. We just did and I regret it.
I remember the last time I saw you. Senior year of highschool. I was working at Togo's and you came in. You didn't even know I worked there because we hadn't talked in two years. You ordered a meatball sandwich and I gave it to you half-price (would have been for free but the manager was right there) and as I rung you up I saw you steal a bag chips and a cookie. Such a Taylor thing to do and I loved it. Then you just walked out, you let me keep the change from your $20 (your sandwich only cost about 2.50) and you were gone. The last I saw of you. You seemed well. Not high or drunk or cracked out. I was happy the rest of that week.
I was never old enough to tell you how much you meant to me. Now I am, and it's too late. That's probably why I'm typing this up. To show the world how much you mean to me. So here it is. Better late than never I suppose... But yeah, you meant a lot... and, as you would say "See you in Hell."
This post is to my childhood best friend Taylor Hodgson who died last year, December 19th, one day before my birthday at the age of 17 in a drunk driving car accident.
One thing that shocked me about his death is that it didn't shock me. It didn't even really bother me... sure it made me sad, but not really sad that he was dead, just sad that a death had occurred. But tonight, tonight I was thinking about everything he did for me and every bit of evidence of his impact on my childhood, on me as a person, on my home... on everything. So here goes Taylor, here is my list of things I remember about you:
I remember how you threw dirt in my eye and we magically became friends. It was hilarious way to meet and probably the only thing I remember of my life ages zero to four.
I remember building a fort out in the wilderness area behind your house and living there for a week. Living on our own.
I remember skipping rocks in my pool. The crack in the cement surrounding the pool is still there from when you fell.
The burn marks are still in my carpet from when we played with your lighter.
The hole in my wall (while patched) is still visible, a reminder of my 12th birthday party.
My basketball hoop is still bent from the time we used the trampoline to play "Slam-Dunk-o-Rama."
I remember staying at your house for days on end and feeling like one of the family. The brown recluse, peeps, frozen sodas, chocolate gum, land mines, water balloons, giant slingshot, skateboarding, hide and go seek, backyard capers, the "crack tree," the ghosts, dirt wars, capture the flag, TD, french toast and powdered sugar. I remember almost everything.
I remember the time we got into a fight because we didn't like the rules of a game we were going to play.
I remember the way you told me to just act myself when I was trying to be something I wasn't.
Skipping school
lighting firecrackers
sneaking out late at night
trick or treating (stealing candy)
flashlight battles
toilet papering houses
even that time we went slashing tires (we were so bad)
Spunky, the best rat ever. I remember burying him in your backyard when he died.
We discovered girls together! Taught eachother everything there is to know about them! (or so we thought)
We had some great times. But one thing I don't remember...
I don't remember why we stopped talking. Why we stopped hanging out about four years ago. Why did the fun have to stop? You didn't move away, I didn't move away, we didn't get in a fight, we had no reason to stop. We just did and I regret it.
I remember the last time I saw you. Senior year of highschool. I was working at Togo's and you came in. You didn't even know I worked there because we hadn't talked in two years. You ordered a meatball sandwich and I gave it to you half-price (would have been for free but the manager was right there) and as I rung you up I saw you steal a bag chips and a cookie. Such a Taylor thing to do and I loved it. Then you just walked out, you let me keep the change from your $20 (your sandwich only cost about 2.50) and you were gone. The last I saw of you. You seemed well. Not high or drunk or cracked out. I was happy the rest of that week.
I was never old enough to tell you how much you meant to me. Now I am, and it's too late. That's probably why I'm typing this up. To show the world how much you mean to me. So here it is. Better late than never I suppose... But yeah, you meant a lot... and, as you would say "See you in Hell."
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