My oldest friend (oldest, like I've known him the longest)

I met Greg Anderson when he transferred to my high school. Greg was my only friend that I hung out with outside of school, and we hung out a lot; usually playing pool or Mortal Kombat. We didn't party, smoke or drink, and we didn't really gamble on the games. It was an activity that we did as wholesome as a couple of kids can, really.

Greg joined The Marines out of high school, and we wrote each other a couple of times when he was in boot camp, but we lost touch with each other after a while. I didn't think I'd ever see him again being Andy Anderson in Minnesota, and he has the same name as my dad, so there are probably more than a few Greg Andersons too. I remember searching for him on classmates.com. I made it as far as them asking me to pay. I would search for him periodically on Facebook, but again we're Andersons.

Then one day I was fooling around on Facebook and he started chatting with me. I couldn't believe it. We chatted for about 3 hours that night. I had my friend back. He lived in San Diego, but we'd connected again!

Last Saturday I was doing laundry. I love to fold clothes while watching TV. I lose myself in whatever crap I find on TV, and before I know it, all of the laundry is ready to be put away. Saturday I sat down with my full basket and The Color of Money was on. I've loved that movie since it came out. I hadn't seen it in a long time, and it was in the middle, but I didn't care. I watched the rest of it.

A lot of the lines reminded me of Greg and I quoting the film over the pool table. I was thinking of those old days on Saturday, and ironically Greg sent me a message that he was on his way to Minnesota for the week and we should hang out. I have seen him since we reconnected, but a lot has happened since I saw him last. He moved across the country, and got married. I quit drinking, and moved to Fridley, and had a kid. We had some catching up to do. We had dinner and played pool at Two Stooges.

I picked him up ay his parent's house and met his wife Martha. She's a delight, but was ill so she couldn't come out with us. I talked with Mrs. Anderson for a few minutes too. I haven't played pool in years, but we don't play for money, so it was fun to knock the balls around. Greg was always a little better than me at pool and Mortal Kombat, and playing him made me better. He's still a little better than me, but it was a lot of fun. 

You know those pool stick bridges that all pool hall tables have? We found that we both almost always made the shot when using the bridge. We would "clean house" with it. Pearl was the housekeeper on Diff'rent Strokes; she "cleaned their house," so we've always only called the bridge Pearl. 

Greg using Pearl (he made the shot)

We played and ate and laughed for a few hours. It was sad that we had to leave. I honestly could have closed the place down, but Greg ordered food to go for his mom and wife. I suppose he wanted to get it to them at a decent hour. It was great to spend some time with my old friend.