The Comfort of Knowing I’m Not Alone

A Plethora of Options Next Time I Need a Friend

As I stepped through the doorway into my cozy apartment, the familiar chimes of my iPhone and Apple Watch filled the air. The sound followed me to the kitchen, where my MacBook rang in unison. Setting down my hat and The New York Times on the counter, I reached for my iPhone and accepted a call from Jo Ann. “Are you taking a walk?” she asked. I told her that I had just come back home. Just remember, I’m here for you if you ever need someone to call if you’re stuck on the roadside,” she assured me, reinforcing the importance of our friendship. I expressed my gratitude for her constant support and for reading my newsletter, especially the post titled “My Midnight Lifeline Call.” She asked when I had been on the roadside, and I shared more details, making her feel integral to my life.

We transitioned to a different topic and delved into our collaboration with Bridges and Jo Ann’s desire to involve more members of her church. I offered encouragement, and we devised several strategies to attract more participants. As our conversation ended, I reminded Jo Ann that Jan and I had each other’s back and cherished one another. Jo Ann concurred, adding that we were constantly in sync. Now and then, a friend imparts an insight that, even though familiar, strikes us as a sudden revelation. Jo Ann wrapped up our discussion so she could start her day’s work feeling connected and understood.

While reading Philip Roth‘s The Human Stain in the morning, I came across a passage that confused and enlightened me. The passage read: “Nothing lasts, and yet nothing passes, either. And nothing passes just because nothing lasts.” These words struck a chord within me, resonating with the transient nature of life and the enduring essence of love.

As much as I know that nothing lasts, I can’t forget the words my wife shared with me on her deathbed. She wanted me to love again and embrace life to the fullest. I’ve indeed found the second love of my life. Since meeting her, I feel as light as air and graceful as a butterfly throughout the day and night, not only when wearing my Brooks Ghost Max 2 shoes. She has brought a new light into my life. It’s an absolute delight, especially as I eagerly anticipate connecting with the woman who has stolen my heart. Despite the obstacles and uncertainties of a new relationship, I am committed to making this love endure, albeit it only exists in my heart. Love may feel different now at 75 than 25, but it remains the most potent force in the universe. As Viktor E. Frankl wrote in “Man’s Search for Meaning,” love is the key to individual and collective salvation.