A High School classmate of mine died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 43. He was married to a younger classmate - two years behind us. He was divorced from a girl from our class, who was from my same neighborhood.
It happened fairly often, but I was always surprised when people from High School married. And none of them had dated in High School - it was always after - sometimes there was a gap of a few years, but I know many who are married to classmates. I don't know that I would be compatible with any of my classmates.
Anyway, my classmate, TG, had two daughters with his first wife, and she's the one whose announcement alerted me to his death. I feel bad for his two daughters (who are maybe 13 and 11), his current wife, who is now a widow, and his ex-wife whose grief is, as we say, complicated.
I have only a few memories concerning TG. They happened when we were in Middle School. The first was when my 7th grade crush asked me if I liked TG. Well, no - I liked my crush. I gave some tepid response to the effect of "I don't really know him but he seems nice". So there was that.
That spring, I went to Perimeter Mall with my Church Youth Group. Because that was a Christlike thing to do, I guess. I honestly cannot remember what the purpose of the trip was, but as 13 year-olds, we were wandering the mall unaccompanied.
Me and some of my gal pals were passing the Hallmark Store, and there was an Easter Bunny out front of it. By that, I mean a person in a full bunny suit. We all hugged the bunny, and when I did, it said, "Hi, Allison!" It was TG. Which, I didn't know - I asked who it was, and he told me. I think his parents owned the store. He was tall, thin and lanky, even then. I remember him as a quiet, gentle type.
I am having one vague, fuzzy memory of college. My 21st birthday. I went out with my roommate and her boyfriend. It was a Friday night, and like you do on your 21st birthday, I got shitfaced.
They decided I should eat before they took me home, and we stopped at The Grill - an iconic Athens diner. TG was our waiter...maybe. And he had piercings and was dressed "alternatively". I ordered toast, and was drunk and friendly and happy to see him, and I feel like he thought I was a conformist. And to him, I was - but in my sorority, I think they wish I would conform more and/or better. But here's the thing... was he my waiter? Or was it another guy who reminded me of him, our classmate PS. Both of them ended up at UGA, so I can't honestly remember. I had been drinking. A LOT. And this was 20 years ago. It was either one or the other of them... well, either way.
That's it - that is all I remember. An Easter Hug, whole grain toast (maybe), and some vague perceptions.
And now he's gone.
Obviously, there are hundreds and maybe thousands of lives he touched way more than mine.
I know he will be missed.
He's not the first classmate we lost. A few to car accidents, one to cancer... and now TG.
And even though it's going to happen more and more in the years that pass, I don't know that I'll ever get used to it.
Love your people, people.
ae
It happened fairly often, but I was always surprised when people from High School married. And none of them had dated in High School - it was always after - sometimes there was a gap of a few years, but I know many who are married to classmates. I don't know that I would be compatible with any of my classmates.
Anyway, my classmate, TG, had two daughters with his first wife, and she's the one whose announcement alerted me to his death. I feel bad for his two daughters (who are maybe 13 and 11), his current wife, who is now a widow, and his ex-wife whose grief is, as we say, complicated.
I have only a few memories concerning TG. They happened when we were in Middle School. The first was when my 7th grade crush asked me if I liked TG. Well, no - I liked my crush. I gave some tepid response to the effect of "I don't really know him but he seems nice". So there was that.
That spring, I went to Perimeter Mall with my Church Youth Group. Because that was a Christlike thing to do, I guess. I honestly cannot remember what the purpose of the trip was, but as 13 year-olds, we were wandering the mall unaccompanied.
Me and some of my gal pals were passing the Hallmark Store, and there was an Easter Bunny out front of it. By that, I mean a person in a full bunny suit. We all hugged the bunny, and when I did, it said, "Hi, Allison!" It was TG. Which, I didn't know - I asked who it was, and he told me. I think his parents owned the store. He was tall, thin and lanky, even then. I remember him as a quiet, gentle type.
I am having one vague, fuzzy memory of college. My 21st birthday. I went out with my roommate and her boyfriend. It was a Friday night, and like you do on your 21st birthday, I got shitfaced.
They decided I should eat before they took me home, and we stopped at The Grill - an iconic Athens diner. TG was our waiter...maybe. And he had piercings and was dressed "alternatively". I ordered toast, and was drunk and friendly and happy to see him, and I feel like he thought I was a conformist. And to him, I was - but in my sorority, I think they wish I would conform more and/or better. But here's the thing... was he my waiter? Or was it another guy who reminded me of him, our classmate PS. Both of them ended up at UGA, so I can't honestly remember. I had been drinking. A LOT. And this was 20 years ago. It was either one or the other of them... well, either way.
For Reenactment Purposes Only |
That's it - that is all I remember. An Easter Hug, whole grain toast (maybe), and some vague perceptions.
And now he's gone.
Obviously, there are hundreds and maybe thousands of lives he touched way more than mine.
I know he will be missed.
He's not the first classmate we lost. A few to car accidents, one to cancer... and now TG.
And even though it's going to happen more and more in the years that pass, I don't know that I'll ever get used to it.
Love your people, people.
ae
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