A Night of Laughter and Memories: The Enduring Bond of Friendship

Reflecting on 44 Years of Friendship Over Dinner

The other night, I had the pleasure of dining with two of my best friends, Desi and Joel, whom I've known since junior high. It's hard to believe that we've been friends for over 44 years. As we sat down for dinner, we began with the usual catch-up questions: "How's the family? How's the wife? How are the kids? How's your job?" Desi proudly shared stories about his two grandkids, Joel talked about his two kids in high school, and I mentioned my two kids in college. These conversations made us feel young, but as we shifted to discussing health issues, reality set in, reminding us of our age.

However, the real fun began when we started reminiscing about the past. Each story started with, "Do you remember when…" and soon, we were laughing harder than we had in a long time. One of my favorite stories is about the "Ding Dong."

After high school, we started a tradition of going on a fishing trip during Thanksgiving. We would have Thanksgiving dinner with our families and then pack up and head to the lake, a two to three-hour drive. We would arrive at the campground around midnight, set up our tents and sleeping bags, and prepare for three days of fishing. One of our rituals was stopping at the grocery store for supplies, and I would always get a box of Ding Dongs. Back then, money was tight, so we had to ration our food, especially the Ding Dongs. To make them last the whole trip, we limited ourselves to one per day. This was a challenge for me, as self-control was not my strong suit, and on one trip, I ate all my Ding Dongs in one day.

We continued this tradition for several years until life got in the way. We got married, had kids, and became busy with their activities, so the fishing trips paused for a while. About ten years ago, we revived the tradition, but with a twist. Now, with a little more money in our pockets, we rent a cabin at Silver Lakes, a beautiful spot in California on the other side of Mammoth Mountain. Of course, I still bring the Ding Dongs, although they are not the same as they used to be. They are smaller and wrapped in plastic instead of aluminum foil, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them.

As we sat at dinner, we talked about going fishing again and restarting these trips. There's something therapeutic about these gatherings—men coming together, bonding, and sharing life's challenges. It's a place where we can seek advice and support. I'm grateful that we are all men of faith, and sometimes I wonder if God's hand is part of this enduring friendship.

The next time you cherish a special relationship, whether it's with a friend, spouse, or colleague, consider if God's hand is part of it. I believe that God's presence is in everything we do, guiding and nurturing our connections.

For a deeper exploration of this topic, check out the podcast where the hosts will dive into this article.