Are you still friends with your childhood best friend?

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Last time I spoke to my best childhood friend was 35 years ago, back in 1975.
I lived in Lebanon, NJ and he had 3 other brothers and 2 sisters.  I recently went back to visit his old home last year, and was re-united with his baby sister and one brother, as well as his mother.  His mother, I might add, instantly recognized my named after almost 40 years and ID'ed me as her one son's best friend. 
That blew me away.  His one sister and brother were somewhat skeptic until I refershed their memories with the places we used to play in, the people we hung out with, ect. It was OK then.   
Had I known the family was still there after all these years, I'd have NEVER lost touch with them. Hard to believe we're all in our 40's now. The mother and father just had their 50th anniversary too!
Anyhow, I've been desperately trying to contact my best buddy (have his address+phone) but he refuses to return the call. I spoke to his mother and she says she has no idea what the problem is.  I wish he'd get back to me, he was the best friend I ever had and I miss him a lot. 

35 years?    That's really sad. 

Sad, but true.  But it really jarred me that his mother remembered me after all those years, and that was really cool! 

I have his phone number and I try to call him, but I don't know why he never returns my calls.  I guess some people change over the years, while some don't.

In many ways, while I'm up on the world, and work and have take my lumps and bruises like everyone else has to, I'm also light years behind my friends. 

I'm still knocking on their doors in the early morning hours, waiting for them to come out and play.

It's hard for me to realize that certain parts of my life (and certain people) are gone, never to return.  But I think we've all had to deal with that. You're never too old to have growing pains..

[BTM]

My two best friends in childhood were Doug and Todd.  One of the most devastating days of my life is when we moved from my hometown to Missouri.  I could post for hours on that, but let's just say I had a lot of trouble fitting in (and admittedly, there were things I did in response that didn't make it easier on myself.)

We sorta kept up over the years through mail and stuff, but I didn't hear from them for a good while.  Then I happened to move back to Southern Illinois and I looked up Doug.  Turns out he was still living in his old house.  We hung out a few times, but our personailities were kind of different now.  Eventually, he ended up abruptly moving, never did find out why exactly, even though I've since found and Friended him on Facebook.  I've asked him about it once or twice, but he's never directly answered me (or the question about how the rest of his family is doing.) 

So, I dunno.  Still read and sometimes comment on his updates, but that's about it.  Right or wrong, I get the feeling he doesn't really care to communicate with me anymore.

As for Todd, I managed to look him up on Myspace (BOY, did he look a lot different than I remember.)  He veriefied in his letter that we went to the same school I did but when I wrote him longer saying how I was, and talked a bit about some childhood memories, he didn't write back.  Tried again a few weeks later, still no answer, so, I just assumed he didn't want to keep in touch.

I have to admit, it kind of bums me out to think about it, really.  I'm a bit of sentimental person, and to paraphrase that line from Stand By Me, I've never had as good of friends as I did when I was a child. 

[Kaseykockroach]

Yeah, he still lives with me to this day. It's hard to talk to him, though. He just barks in response.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I'm aware of my childhood friend, our fanmilies are close and I have wondered if I should contact her.  Otherwise, the next up is a high school friiend I have known for 23 years.  We talk once a week or so, and see each other every few montsh for fun and excitement.  He just got married and I was his best man.
-Ed