Here are Doug Savchenko and Cindy Bredy (Cindy's on the right.) We were friends back in our high school days — those ended in 1975, and I not only haven't seen them since, I haven't heard a peep from them until last week. But Doug and Cindy, and Brenda, from the same time and place (and unlike these two, from my high school) have been back in touch for some time, and have even gotten together at times.

Cindy and I weren't close friends back then, and one of the amazing things of the past week, as we really get to know each other for the first time, is how badly we misunderstood each other then. Because we never sat down and talked, I never knew what she thought of me, and I never got to ask her: "Why are you mad at me all the time?" Because, of course, she wasn't. But teenagers tend not to stop and think things through from other perspectives, and I certainly didn't.

How much did I lose back then, not ever really knowing Cindy? What might I have given her in terms of friendship? These are warning questions, nothing more. I can't go back and become her friend then, but I can renew my commitment to being open, honest and brave enough to be a friend even when I'm scared. I know Cindy had trepidations about emailing me for the first time a week ago; she had no way of knowing if I'd respond positively or tell her to go to hell. But I've too few friends in my life to do that. It's a blast to make this connection with her and Doug and Brenda. I'm heading up to Seattle next month, to visit my dad and take Jesse to see a college he wants to attend. I'll be able to visit Cindy, and Doug may come up from Texas, and Cindy's trying to talk Brenda into a visit! That could be amazing, or better.