Folks:
I'm going to omit last names and other things to respect the privacy of those who I am speaking of.
In the early '70s I became good friends with three brothers, Tom, Mark, and Mike; all three of them racing sports cars in the SCCA. From 1974-1976 I crewed on middle brother Mark's car, culminating in a front row start and podium finish at the National Championships at Road Atlanta.
Meeting Mark introduced me to his older brother Tom and younger brother Mike. This trio of brothers were part of an amazing and unforgettable era in Sue's and my life.
It wasn't just racing either. Oldest brother Tom got me started with a small company in the computer business (he hired me and was my boss), starting a career that provided Sue and me the comfortable lifestyle we enjoy to this day.
Youngest brother Mike was always part of the racing, the fun, the good times, and was super cute according to Sue. I'll never forget the time the four of us were playing golf. It was Mark and me in one cart, Mike and Tom in the other. Mike was driving their cart. I remember him racing down a damp, gassy hillside and hitting the e-brake, only to cause the cart to spin sideways and roll, ejecting both Mike and Tom as well as their golf clubs. I remember how Mark and I looked on in horror before righting the cart and bending the poles that supported the tasseled roof back into position. I LOL as I write this. Mike, you goof ball!!!
But as we all know, life moves fast and even good friends drift apart. My career took more and more time and Mark, who lived a few doors down, moved across town. I left the computer company that Tom and I worked at. Then Sue and I had kids.... The net result, we drifted apart but never forgot about each other.
15 or 20 years later and thanks to the internet I embarked on a quest to find them. Over a decade ago I found Mark's address and phone number. Every time I drove up to the San Francisco Bay Area I'd pass right through the town he lived in, promising myself that I would call him or stop to see him - next time.
I vividly remember the day I said to myself, this is THE DAY! But when I looked up Mark I found his obituary instead!
Same with Tom. Countless times I thought of calling him to say "hi" and thank him for helping me get started in a rewarding career. But I never did and therefore didn't get the chance. Tom passed two years after Mark. Another missed opportunity, Dammit!
That left Mike. Mike's contact info couldn't be found so I made a few phone calls, eventually connecting me with Mike's great nephew (is that even the proper term?).
I got Mike's phone number in April but put off calling him until July. When we spoke it was like we'd never been apart. I was grinning like a chimp during our phone call and I'm certain Mike was doing the same. We promised each other to have lunch or dinner sometime soon. For 3 or 4 months we spoke, always making the same promise to see each other soon. I actually used to get giddy with the thought of seeing him. Sue too!
By now I had added Mike to my contacts. On New Years Eve night I saw an incoming text from Mike. Surely a message of best wishes for the new year and a reminder that we need to do lunch or dinner soon. How thoughtful of him! Instead it was his daughter using his iPhone to tell me Mike had passed away unexpectedly on December 26th!!!
THANK GOD Mike and I reconnected on the phone, but it will forever sting that we never got to hug each other and talk about old and new times. Talking about the golf cart would have probably resulted in our server coming over and asking us to speak more quietly!
Here is my message to you. Make that phone call. Have that lunch. Contact the old friend you lost track of and miss, or the cousin you wished you spoke to more often. For some people there is no tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
I'm going to omit last names and other things to respect the privacy of those who I am speaking of.
In the early '70s I became good friends with three brothers, Tom, Mark, and Mike; all three of them racing sports cars in the SCCA. From 1974-1976 I crewed on middle brother Mark's car, culminating in a front row start and podium finish at the National Championships at Road Atlanta.
Meeting Mark introduced me to his older brother Tom and younger brother Mike. This trio of brothers were part of an amazing and unforgettable era in Sue's and my life.
It wasn't just racing either. Oldest brother Tom got me started with a small company in the computer business (he hired me and was my boss), starting a career that provided Sue and me the comfortable lifestyle we enjoy to this day.
Youngest brother Mike was always part of the racing, the fun, the good times, and was super cute according to Sue. I'll never forget the time the four of us were playing golf. It was Mark and me in one cart, Mike and Tom in the other. Mike was driving their cart. I remember him racing down a damp, gassy hillside and hitting the e-brake, only to cause the cart to spin sideways and roll, ejecting both Mike and Tom as well as their golf clubs. I remember how Mark and I looked on in horror before righting the cart and bending the poles that supported the tasseled roof back into position. I LOL as I write this. Mike, you goof ball!!!
But as we all know, life moves fast and even good friends drift apart. My career took more and more time and Mark, who lived a few doors down, moved across town. I left the computer company that Tom and I worked at. Then Sue and I had kids.... The net result, we drifted apart but never forgot about each other.
15 or 20 years later and thanks to the internet I embarked on a quest to find them. Over a decade ago I found Mark's address and phone number. Every time I drove up to the San Francisco Bay Area I'd pass right through the town he lived in, promising myself that I would call him or stop to see him - next time.
I vividly remember the day I said to myself, this is THE DAY! But when I looked up Mark I found his obituary instead!
Same with Tom. Countless times I thought of calling him to say "hi" and thank him for helping me get started in a rewarding career. But I never did and therefore didn't get the chance. Tom passed two years after Mark. Another missed opportunity, Dammit!
That left Mike. Mike's contact info couldn't be found so I made a few phone calls, eventually connecting me with Mike's great nephew (is that even the proper term?).
I got Mike's phone number in April but put off calling him until July. When we spoke it was like we'd never been apart. I was grinning like a chimp during our phone call and I'm certain Mike was doing the same. We promised each other to have lunch or dinner sometime soon. For 3 or 4 months we spoke, always making the same promise to see each other soon. I actually used to get giddy with the thought of seeing him. Sue too!
By now I had added Mike to my contacts. On New Years Eve night I saw an incoming text from Mike. Surely a message of best wishes for the new year and a reminder that we need to do lunch or dinner soon. How thoughtful of him! Instead it was his daughter using his iPhone to tell me Mike had passed away unexpectedly on December 26th!!!
THANK GOD Mike and I reconnected on the phone, but it will forever sting that we never got to hug each other and talk about old and new times. Talking about the golf cart would have probably resulted in our server coming over and asking us to speak more quietly!
Here is my message to you. Make that phone call. Have that lunch. Contact the old friend you lost track of and miss, or the cousin you wished you spoke to more often. For some people there is no tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
Last edited:
