I Miss My Friend.

On cold miserable days, much like the day this is being written, I think back to a similar weather day back in 1995 or 1996. The exact year escapes me. A new media buyer was hired at the agency where I worked. He lived 80 miles away and commuted everyday. On this particular miserable day, this worker left his car lights on and was greeted to a dead battery at the end of the day. I offered my assistance, my jumper cables and a live battery. In a few moments his car came to life, and I had a new friend.

Corey was not your typical friend. He was high maintenance, but in a special lovable sort of way. He drove some people up the wall with his sarcastic sense of humor and a self centered portion of his personality that was part act and part humorous. He was the kind of guy that would be looking for a new job after three days at his current job. He would also call me on the phone, even though he was three desks away, and whisper into his headset that he was “not feeling it” today and we should go hit golf balls or go to beach at lunch. He did it with a cat in the cookie jar smile. He could talk NASCAR with one group of people and then mingle with the President of a Fortune 500 company. He was amazing.

On one particular day, I received a call from Corey (three desks away) asking if I would stop at the local Bob’s to pick up a pair of shoes he liked. They were out of his size at the nearest store in town. I explained that my uncle was very ill, and probably not going to live the week. I was on my way to hospital to visit him after work, and with that no shoe trip was possible. He said he understood and hung up. A few moments later the phone rang again, and once again it was Corey asking if I could pick up his shoes, but adding that my uncle would want him to have these shoes, and if he does pass, he’ll be glad to wear them at the wake in his honor. It was pure Corey, and as I looked over my desk there was his face in full Cheshire cat smile, feet in the air.

The stories are endless, ranging from the weekend he let me use his car while he was away on business, only to leave me with an empty tank of gas and no key to the gas tank. Or the time I was asked to help him for the day to paint his house. Eight visits to the house, and three months later the house was complete. On the flip side, the beers were always cold and the stories were non stop. A few months later as my wife and I were about to get married, there was a knock on the door. It was Corey with a 25 inch television.

As the years passed and we went our separate ways professionally, I knew he was always out there. In fact on one night when I was stuck at work, I asked him to be LeAnn’s date for the night to a special event. In true form, he showed up, dressed up and brought my wife to a wonderful night out. “Got ya covered kid.” I still use the word “kid” often today in remembrance of him.

For some reason God decided he needed him up in heaven far too soon for many of us. It’s been a number of years now, but the gloom of winter makes me think about my friend. I wonder if they allow headsets up in heaven. If so I’m sure he’s working out a deal with some angel over getting the afternoon off.