Paul was my best friend. Knowing Paul, he was a best friend to many others.
This picture is how I remember Paul. Laid back, easy going and ready to get down to business and get things done. “Bingo, bingo, bingo” was a saying that he kept alive from our trigonometry teacher and his football coach.
We met in high school. I changed high schools in my junior year after my parents bought a new house in a different school district. I can’t recall exactly recall how we met. I do remember it had something to do with the fact that by fate, we had 3 or 4 classes together.
I guess you could say that he adopted me, instead of me making a new friend. He was the first one to step forward and invite me into the pack. It was a welcome invitation into a new, unknown world.
As high school progressed, we again had many classes together in our senior year. This friendship also led to many common activities outside of school. Then graduation came.
We both had interests in military service. I always thought he was wrong about choosing the Air Force and rightfully teased him about his choice. He returned the banter about my choice of the Army.
Off we went, making our way in the world to discover why so many others had chosen the call to military. While I was discovering the millions of sweat pores on my body in the hot Lousianna summers, Paul was wondering if there was ever any sun in England. I suppose that the Air Force had some pity on him and transferred him to New Mexico. Either that or it was a sadistic joke by some staffer in an office job.
Fast forward a few years, service time done, university and school out of the way, we settled into our lives. Paul married his high school sweetheart. I was honored to be one of his groomsmen at his wedding. I married a girl that I met a few years later.
Life, careers, spouses, houses and children. I moved away but we managed to stay in touch over the years. Now our children play together when we get the chance to get together, thought not as often as I would have liked.
He was truly a giver and really gave back to society and community. It started with his Air Force service. After the service, he became a teacher and taught at the same high school that started us out in life. He also continued his high school passion for football by giving his time to work on the high school coaching staff.
With his wife, he gave the world three beautiful girls. He gave up his bathroom too.
Though he passed away today, I will remember today with a smile, for it was the sunniest, warmest day of the near end of winter. A release, if you will, of the hardship that Paul has been enduring for a while now.
He will be great missed.