friend

  

This is me and classmate (Bishop Denis J. O'Connell HS, Arlington, VA) Charlie Boone in 1962/63 at St. Ann's orphanage (now St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families--St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families | A Tradition of Caring ) in Washington, DC. Homeroom Brother St. Francis of Mary drafted us for the Legion of Mary that he was monitoring. He was a barber. He taught us how to cut hair. On Saturday some would cut hair at O'Connell for $0.50 a head. Others would go to St. Ann's, cut hair and play with the kids.

I used to think of this photo as the geek and the star athlete. Charlie was the star fullback on O'Connell's football team and star player on O'Connell's undefeated baseball team. Charlie was everybody's friend--even geeks. He treated all the same.

After O'Connell we all went our separate ways. I lost touch with most of my high school buddies. 

Charlie's life after high school was not without struggles. He had health issues. I suspect that Charlie was one of the first of our class (1964) to die. The last time that I saw him was at our ten-year HS reunion. I can still picture him sitting on a blanket next to the football field with his wife and young son. 

Now I look at this photo, taken 60 years ago, and I see friend. I miss him.

Is there any greater legacy than "friend"? A friend that treats everyone the same--warmly, friendly? I don't think so.

Thanks to Jim Murphy, yearbook editor, academic star and friend, who gave me this photo. My yearbook got lost over the years, but I will treasure this photo and Charlie Boone and Jim Murphy as friends for the rest of my days.