Missing Persons

You ever have people you knew in the past you lost track of? Ever wonder where they are and how they are doing.

Every once in a while I get these moments where I wish I knew where some of my old friends are. I had a handful of best friends before I was 10 that are in god-knows-where right now. I wonder if they ever think of me?

When I was a toddler through about 4 or 5 I had a best friend named Stephanie. I remember sleeping over at her house and she'd sleep over at mine. At that age pretty much anyone that will share their sandbox with you is a friend, but Stephanie's mom was a friend of my parents so we saw each other a lot. They lived somewhere in Hawaii Kai I think

I was close enough to Stephanie that I remember thinking that she was my "girlfriend" hahah. How sad...a little 5 year old talking about girlfriend? I was a hopeless romantic even then. Emphasis on the Hopeless.

Anyway, Steph's mom eventually moved them both to San Fran somewhere. For a the next couple of years we exchanged letters and I remember sending her drawing stencils. She'd use them a little while and then send it back to me. How cute huh?

The last time I saw Steph she was back in the Islands for a visit. This was about 10 years ago now I think. I remember our families met at the Hard Rock Cafe... which was new at the time.

It was the WORST place to meet. I didn't say a word to her and ended up having more of a conversation with her other friend who was sitting next to me. The music was so loud there you really couldn't hear anybody talk. Plus I was nervous to see her after what was about 15 years of absense. It wasn't a romantic thing but, you know, you just get nervous? Anyway, suffice to say I didn't get to talk to Steph at all and she maybe ended up leaving Hawaii thinking I was a jerk who just wanted to flirt with her friend. I've never seen or heard from her since.... I even tried searching for the name and emailing a couple of "Stephanie" people in SF one time to see if I could find her. hahah. NOPE!

In first grade, I had a best friend named Jeffrey. I remember Jeffrey had one glass eye. He lived just a block down from where my parents are now. One time he mom invited me to their place. I remember we were out on their balcony watching this plastic bag float up and down over the highway because of the wind drafts. We laughed so hard we couldn't stop. His mom probably thought we both went insane. It was just one of those uncontrollable laughter moments... these are harder to come by as you get older.

I had a friend named Piers over when my family spent a year over in Australia back in '79. I don't remember much from him but I can imagine he's probably tackling crocs somewhere. CROIKEY!!

Where are all these people? Are they doing alright? Do they all have families of their own now? Do they write in their own blogs saying "I knew this guy named Raph......."