Today I got the news that my childhood best friend, Ronald S Clark had died. Right now I’m still in a state of numbness about his death and most likely will be for awhile. We meet a lot of people in our lives we devotedly call friends but maybe only 1-2 we call ’My Best Friend’. Someone no matter what will be there with you in the back of a police car. Walking home with you from a party, instead of driving or getting a ride, not because you’re both drunk, but because it’s your car and you lost the keys. Even after fighting each other bloody in your parents driveway, because you put his leather jacket in the oven in a drunken prank, though you never turned the oven on. Ending up at the same ER me with a broken nose, he with a broken hand, still pissed off ready to fight right there once more, yet leaving as friends bandaged from head to toe. Ronnie was the kind of friend you find in a Toby Keith or country song on friendship it’s just that simple. I have been blessed in this life to have met Ronnie and 1 other I would call best friend, my Best Friend Marc Banks here in Texas which is more then some can say. The years went past, I went army, he stayed home, and on a drunken night driving down some unremembered road became paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. I blamed myself a long time for being in North Carolina at Fort Bragg and not in Maryland to take away his keys once more.

I met Ronnie at a place called Ridgeway Elementary school and it was a friendship that would last literally till today. Yeah we did not keep in touch like we should have, but we never lost touch. Life takes us so very often away from the people that mean the most to us and then by the time we realize we should have found a way to make that time, call more often, more visits, its too late.
Ronnie and I lol what can you say, no matter what, GF’s, social A-holes or just plain jealous people. People that wanted the friendship he and I had, and tried to come between us, never once did we allow them stop us from being friends. This month marks 1 year since I saw him last in Maryland a meeting that lasted all of 5 minutes as he kicked me and another friend out of his home. I was so hurt and could not at first understand why. Then I realized he did not want us to see him like that all gaunt and sickly looking breathing through a canister of air. Not because he was embarrassed by it but he did not want us to leave with such an image overlaying the ones of the past. That’s the kind of guy he was. I know no one here at the Inn knows him but I still wanted to show you all what a true friend looks like in much better days. This is how I will always remember him….. Thank you all for your indulgence and to the Inn where I can still say goodbye to a friend..

Seems like a great guy. Sorry for your loss.

I do appricaite the words

Good vibes being sent your way Tann.

You and I never really got to know each other Tann, but I'm truly sorry to hear about this.

Thoughts and prayers your way.

*evaporates*

Losing a friend is never something that is easy. And it is something that you never truly get over... you just learn to live with the pain of the loss.

But remember not the pain you felt at his passing, but in the joys of your time together.

Tann'Talas, I offer to you my most sincere condolences, and my prayers go out to you and your friend.
If you care to talk about it, I'm at your disposal.

condolences, Tann.
*huggs*

your heart felt words were beautiful.

I too am sorry for your loss. It is good that in your time together you built a lasting place in your heart and memory. All those "Memorable" times will stay with you and because of that Ronnie will never be lost to you, it may just be a one sided conversations now.

Be happy that you can claim such a friendship, many of us can't. Morn as needed to settle your spirit.

I'm so sorry for your loss, man.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Tann. We're all with you in this difficult time.

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and his family. Never forget.

I check in almost daily to Vote for the Inn and sometimes read a Post or Two.

Tann you wrote about your Best Friend and touched our hearts, as though we Innmates had known him as a neighbor or a former classmate!

Praying for you as you adjust to Your Loss!

Hammer

Sorry for you loss, Tann. Hope you'll find the strength to deal with this.

I am really sorry to hear of your loss, Al. Thank you for sharing your touching story with us.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts he will be missed by a few good friends and family. However like his daughter told me over the weekend and another old friend said the same, he is now hopefully in a better place.

Though I cannot make his funeral on Wednesday I will try to take a trip to MD to visit his grave and his surviving family next year.