I knew a man a while ago from the cold north, he was older and widely known and respected. He seemed to know everyone in town and was surely known by almost everyone around. He was talking to me one day about an old friend of his who he'd been friends with for over twenty years. He didn't know this good friend of his's name, nor did he know the name of many of his other good friends. He explained that when they had first met they had told each other their names but he had forgotten his friends shortly after. He was embarrassed to ask his friend his name again after that, so he just always greeted his friend without naming him. Every time he saw his friend he would just say "Hey, how's it going?" without ever mentioning his name. He carried on year after year not remembering several of his friends names until the present day. It was a funny story and it was easy to see how the same thing could happen to just about anyone.
There is a guy that has his stand next to me in painting class. Everyday we stand next to each other and paint. A lot of times we are partners on assignments or set up still life scenes together. He always asks me everyday how I'm doing and calls me by name. I don't remember his name and it has been several weeks now of classes. He is a really cool guy and I like talking to him in class but I don't have the slightest idea of his name. I'm going to find out before the semester ends though, perhaps through intrigue, perhaps by hiring a private investigator. Of course I could always just ask him... nope, that'll never happen.
I tricked my roommate into going to a Harry Potter party tonight. I told him it was just a party. He left almost immediately.
People come into our lives and make life better and more interesting. When they leave they take something of us with them. It's good to have friends, even if you don't know their names.
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