Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

My Visit With Bob

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

I just got back from a great visit with my friend Bob Walker, Class of '64. I flew into Orlando and drove over to see him in Ormond Beach, which is just up the street from Daytona Beach. We had a very nice visit, mostly sitting around and talking about old times and old friends.

Any of you who have read my book "A Million Tomorrows...Memories of the Class of '64" know about my friendship with Bob. If you haven't read it I still have some available.

Anyway Bob's had a few health problems and so I thought I'd take some time out of my hectic life and go down and visit him and enjoy the warm Florida weather. The weather turns out to be beautiful and it was fun sitting out at a resturant on the beach and watching the birds and listening to the waves crash against the beach while we ate and talked.

For fun the last night, Bob took me to a Biker Bar. He was playing in a nine-ball tournament at a place called the B.F.F.A.R. That turned out to be the clubhouse for the "Bikers For First Amendment Rights." Being a journalist I thought I would fit right in with the folks. They were all dressed out in their black biker T-shirts, and Harley colors, and I walked in with a bright blue golf shirt with Mickey Mouse embroideried on it. Yep, I was right at home. I should have waited until next week when it will be Biker Week in Daytona Beach. You'd probably see us on TV.

After the tournament we reverted to our old school day habits and drove into Krystal's and got a bag of hamburgers and ate them at 11:30pm. It was just like the good old days on the Parkway strip. The visit was way too short, but it was one I felt I had to make, and I know Bob enjoyed it as much as I did.

I looked on the internet for something that expressed the friendship I have with Bob, and this is what I found. It takes a true friend to understand it, and Bob is that friend.

Are you tired of those sissy “friendship” poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card- just the stone cold truth of our friendship.

Because You Are My Friend

When you are sad — I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against

the sorry bastard who made you that way.

When you are blue — I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

When you smile — I will know you finally got laid.

When you are scared — I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

When you are worried — I will tell you horrible stories about how much

worse it could be until you quit whining.

When you are confused — I will use little words.

When you are sick — Stay the hell away from me until you are well

again. I don’t want to catch whatever you have.

When you fall – I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

This is my oath….. I pledge it to the end.

“Why?” you may ask?, “Because you are my friend”.

Friendship is like peeing your pants: everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

If you have a friend such as this, then why not copy the poem above and send it to him or her.

If you want something a little more serious, I found that too. I found a site that lets you send a friendship message. You can send it to your own best friend by using their name in the link. Here is a sample

http://Bob.Walker.youaremyfriend.com

So, to send you own friend the message, just use the same line only replace Bob.Walker with your friend's name like Lehman.Williams would send the same mesage to Lehman. Make sure you capitalize their name and put the period between names.

Why not take a few minutes and do something special for your friend, even if it is just a phone call or e-mail?

___________________________________________