We settled down recently for an evening of television and were watching the contestants on Masterchef attempt to make a baked alaska. It brought back a memory from more than 40 years ago of being invited to our friend Finlay’s flat for dinner and he made a baked alaska, the first I had ever eaten. I was in awe of his creation!
In reminiscing, The Wing Commander remembered Finlay’s flatmate but couldn’t recall his name. During the conversation I recalled his name, Martin, that he was Canadian and had been a student at University at the same time as Finlay but that he was perhaps originally a friend of another friend, Alan.
As I tried to sort the memories in my head I was about to say that I would ask Alan the next time I saw him when I realised that I wouldn’t see him again as he was dead. Finlay was too. I sat with my fresh grief for a moment before being washed with a whole new set of memories from our long friendship. The Wing Commander remembered the reason we were invited for dinner was to view the slides from Alan and Finlay’s recent trip to Italy.
I met Alan when we were both training to become teachers. He became one, I didn’t. Through him I met Findlay and other friends and for many years we were a fixed team. I miss them both and will continue to speak their names to bask in the warmth of those memories, even when recalling brings back the pain of no longer having them in my life.
Significantly Different 