I had a friend, Kyle, who was one of my bff's until about 11 or 12. He moved off about an hour from us, which is infinity in kid distances. I spent the night with him one time after the move, playing videogames as always, and then we never saw each other again. I googled him in the early days of the internet but no luck.
I recently looked him again. A lifetime has passed, but why not? He crossed my mind and I was curious. Hell, maybe I'd just send an awkward internet hi and I'm glad your'e doing well.
Turns out he died in 2016. I found his obituary.
He grew up just like I said, an hour a way. He was high school valedictorian. Then went to the same college as me, but staggered since I worked before going to college. He became a software programmer, moved to Austin, and then apparently was found dead alone in his apartment. I assume drugs or suicide. He was an only child. I wasn't close with his parents, but what a terrible ending to their input. Raise someone so far into their life with so much success, you assume you'll outlive them.
I haven't seen the guy in decades and who the hell knows what I was thinking looking him up. But I see my old life in his quite a bit. Locales, schools, jobs, etc. Dozens of people posted on his obituary from all his phases of life talking about childhood, college, etc. Everyone was shocked and saddened by the loss.
Love your loved ones. Check in on people.
Also, after this, Linkedin suggested his old profile as a possible friend. The power of the internet is an emotionless machine.
I recently looked him again. A lifetime has passed, but why not? He crossed my mind and I was curious. Hell, maybe I'd just send an awkward internet hi and I'm glad your'e doing well.
Turns out he died in 2016. I found his obituary.
He grew up just like I said, an hour a way. He was high school valedictorian. Then went to the same college as me, but staggered since I worked before going to college. He became a software programmer, moved to Austin, and then apparently was found dead alone in his apartment. I assume drugs or suicide. He was an only child. I wasn't close with his parents, but what a terrible ending to their input. Raise someone so far into their life with so much success, you assume you'll outlive them.
I haven't seen the guy in decades and who the hell knows what I was thinking looking him up. But I see my old life in his quite a bit. Locales, schools, jobs, etc. Dozens of people posted on his obituary from all his phases of life talking about childhood, college, etc. Everyone was shocked and saddened by the loss.
Love your loved ones. Check in on people.
Also, after this, Linkedin suggested his old profile as a possible friend. The power of the internet is an emotionless machine.