Got to talk to an old friend from 1969 (long)

[Aerovette]

Thanks to the wonderful internet and some persistance, I managed to track down a long lost friend from when I was a very young boy. I was very happy to talk to him after 42 years. It was a mixed feeling by the time I hung up. This is probably the 5th or 6th old friend I have encountered that seems to have lived in continuous turmoil and just seems to have hit a wall in their lives. In the middle of the conversation he asks me if I "party". After I hung up and was reflecting on this friend and several others in my life, I realized the common element between those that have done well for themselves and the ones that seem to have really gone no where. Give me a moment while I slip into my flame suit, but the common element? Marijuana.Almost without exception this is the case in the lives that seem to have stalled. Me and each of these people were at EXACTLY the same place in our lives at the time we were friends.

This guy I spoke to last, lived right next to me. His mom was my babysitter. We liked the same music, rode the same bikes, watched the Monkees, played with Hot Wheels, built model cars. What fork in the road put us in such different places?

I looked up another guy I used to hang with back in the early 80's. He lives in his mom's house, has no car, has no job, stoned most of the time that I see him these days.

I can name example after example.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Am I just dead wrong and this is all just a huge coincidence? I have plenty of other examples so I find it to be more than coincidence.

[NEVRL8T]

I can say just the opposite. My friends, most of them "partied". I wound up with a terrible addiction to various forms of Cocaine. Nearly lost my life - did lose nearly everything I owned. A lot of my friends went through the same thing. Most of them turned out well.

[CP]

I can say just the opposite. My friends, most of them "partied". I wound up with a terrible addiction to various forms of Cocaine. Nearly lost my life - did lose nearly everything I owned. A lot of my friends went through the same thing. Most of them turned out well.

And you ended up with the woman in your avatar. :hurray:

[NEVRL8T]

And you ended up with the woman in your avatar. :hurray:

Yeah, I am still dreaming.

[cmb396]

Similar thing happened to me last year, only I met up with my childhood friend after 20 years, and could not wait to get away from him!!
I grew up outside of Knoxville, and on my way down to a Vol game last year, looked up my friends mom's info to call her and see where he was, it had been nearly 20 years since I talked to him. Lucky me, he lived with her (at 34)!!
I met up with LocoVett at a bar Friday, and my friend met us there later on after he got off work. Long story short, he spent the entire weekend with me, had NO money, I paid for his drinks all weekend, he stayed with me at the hotel I got, didn't offer anything. He was an absolute beligerant drunk that almost got us kicked out of the Tennessee game, and the list goes on. Haven't heard from him since, and erased his phone number as soon as I got in the Z06 and headed back to WV!!

[mike100]

I know two close people who smoke a lot. One stopped about a year ago because he wanted to get a new job, but he makes so much money at his present one, he just decided to grow up and stick with it. I think he is somewhat over it.

The other friend is a very functional alcoholic type...he could have so much more without the habits though.

[Yerf Dog]

Anyone else have a similar experience? Am I just dead wrong and this is all just a huge coincidence? I have plenty of other examples so I find it to be more than coincidence.

I don't think it's always the case, but I have seen the same general trend in the people I know.

[Scruff Vette]

2009 old college pal finds me on FB. We have a phone conversation one night:

Him - Hey man, how's the weed where you are? I get really good shit here.

Me- I can't remember how many years ago I smoked that stuff. Long time.

Him - I can.... I got high 5 minutes ago.

Pause- both chuckle then silence

Me - Steve, you still there?

Him - Holy shit...gotto go... holy shit grilling out a steak and just set the porch on fire. Wow man. (hangs up)

Me - :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Some things never change. :) BTW, he's a retired teacher living the good life on St. Simeones island in GA.