I met a fellow in my neighborhood by happenstance. We happened to be crazy similar. He was really cool.

I felt bad not really getting around to checking in on him more often. I was shy and afraid of what I didn’t know, or making a fool of myself. But damnit he was a really cool guy…

Occasionally I’d catch him with his garage door open and we’d have a chat. (You gotta understand, nobody interacts in this neighborhood.) We met because I was out running in the rain like a crazy guy (we rarely get rain lol) and HE decided to introduce himself to me as I ran by his house LOL.

So anyway…I saw he hadn’t responded to my Merry Christmas text.

…And just a week ago or so I got a text from his wife that he had passed away from an aneurysm 4 months prior.

When I brought her flowers for him, she told me he had said that he thought. . .that I was very cool. . .

Why I’m sharing this:

I know it’s awkward sometimes trying to make new friends as an adult, but also it’s foolish to simply assume tomorrow is guaranteed. Do that hangout. Plan the game night. Talk about random stuff in the backyard. Whatever.

You will never regret more time spent in fellowship and good company.

I would have been a really good friend to him if I just reached out more…

The loneliness epidemic is absolutely real, and this isolating society is killing us all by design and it breaks my heart.

That is all.