I received a call today from one of my long lost rugby buddies. “Hey a********** thanks for the warning, glad to hear you are moving let’s celebrate” was the message on my voice mail. Ah it did not seem so long ago we were hoisting beers after a practice, a game, or just to be drinking beer.
We met later that day in a bar some would call a dive but “back in the day” this would have been a really nice place. Plus they had ladies tending bar who were quite pleasant and had all their teeth. After a few beers another of our old teammates showed up.
Many years had passed by and perhaps it was the alcohol but before long we had settled into our old ways of half mocking, always exaggerating, but light hearted banter. Maybe it was our age or our wisdom or lack thereof but the conversation flowed smoothly like the years had never aged us.
Like life the minutes at first went slowly but then it was all over in the blink of an eye. It was time to leave. As I walked out the door I understood it is not the game but your teammates. Your friends are the things which are most important. It is not whether you won or lost or even how you played the game. Friends, those you love, those who love you, they are the really true important thing.
As I drove home in the dark a message showed on my phone,
“So long and thanks for the beer”.