I was online, writing a blog post and commenting on as many Slice of Life posts as possible, when the computer rang. I am old enough that I usually use a phone for conversations, so I was startled. Also, I was still in my pjs because it was the last day of March Break and I was savouring my tea and my morning. When I saw his name on the screen – a wonderful old friend – my mind flashed, “What if it’s a video call? I’m not ready!” but my heart said, “BOBBY!” and I picked up the call.
“Hello Mandy!” I could hear the smile in his voice, and I smiled back because this unexpected call, after – what? five years? – made me happy before we even started talking.
We chatted about families, changes, life. Our conversation was mundane, too particular to us for me to share, too universal for you to need me to share: you already know everything we said. We haven’t seen each other in 10 years – 10! When our oldest children were babies! Where is that picture? – but it mattered little. Time got slippery as we talked – we were there in our youth, we were here in our middle age, we were looking forward to the time that still stretches in front of us. Half an hour passed before I noticed.
As we hung up, my heart expanded to fill my chest. I was completely full of this particular moment, of this friend, of this friendship, and I was happy, just so happy that he called.
I took my cup of tea and my messy hair, walked away from the computer and stared out the back window at the snow-covered ground for a few minutes before I went back to my day.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
Your writing shows how meaningful this friendship must be. The looking out the window for a moment at the end has some real heft.
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Nice! I love calls from old friends. I’m amazed it only lasted 30 minutes!
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(He’s a wonderful old friend, but he’s still a guy…)
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Your post made me tear up; having a great friend (even one you don’t see or hear from a lot) is a gift. I love the way you describe your conversation: particular to us and universal. It’s a perfect way to talk about those conversations.
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Calls are special, that voice to voice connection. I’m so glad your friend called. The same kind of exchange just doesn’t happen digitally.
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Life is full of unexpected moments, some difficult and some (like this one) joyful. I could see you sitting there reminiscing with this friend and felt some of the joy you must have been experiencing. When you talked about “staring out the back window at the snow-covered ground for a few minutes” I couldn’t help but thinking, THAT is what I do so often to center myself, process things, and sit with something for a few minutes. I go to the back patio door and stare out into the field. It was uncanny to read how you did that.
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What a wonderful friendship story! Glad you answered the phone! 🙂
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It is so nice when life is interrupted by a pleasant phone call! It is always so nice when you can pick up where you left off despite how much time has passed with an old friend.
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Unexpected calls from old, dear friends are like grownup gifts from Santa. They remind us of who we once were, tying with what we are today in a nice, welcomed package. Thanks for the morning smile!
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The last line is so perfect, so visual. I love how the messy hair and your feeling of contentment connects to the first paragraph with the anxiety of a possible video call. Well-crafted! I see what you’re doing!
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You capture so much emotion in this slice. An unexpected call from a longtime friend is really special. I love your lines :Our conversation was mundane, too particular to us for me to share, too universal for you to need me to share: you already know everything we said.
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It was nice to read about taking time for friendships and conversations. These somehow feel like things that don’t happen often enough anymore.
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The conversation does sound nice. That said, the line that sticks with me is this sly character note: “I am old enough that I usually use a phone for conversations, so I was startled.”
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