Geoff

Geoff was my best friend once upon a time. My family moved from South Dakota in 1987 to Nebraska. My oldest brother and father moved first, then the rest of us over Christmas break. Apparently, there was a lack of rentals. Geoff's family lived next door. We were in the same grade (4th), and he took me under his wing. 

The top photo was taken at Geoff's high school graduation party (he's wearing the tie and I have my arm around him, my brothers on either side). This may have been the last time I saw him. That's a sorry ending to a best-friend story, I know. 

Geoff was the best at everything, as I recall. He was super smart, athletic, well-liked, and had plenty of friends. When we moved to Nebraska, I was at least a year behind in all my subjects. Using Geoff as a marker of success, I got myself good grades again by the time 5th grade ended. 

I went out for Optimist Football using a borrowed helmet and pads. On the first day of practice, I recall Geoff yelling for me when the coach wanted to see how fast I could run. Geoff always pushed me to be better. I thank him for that now. But I could never beat him at anything.

This photo must have been a birthday meal. Was it mine? Probably. And, for once, I didn't ruin the picture. Jon's turn. This was taken at the Pizza Hut in town. How old was I? Maybe 12. I don't know what happened, but Geoff drifted away after we moved to the other side of town and we saw less of each other. His interests remained the same and mine started to differ. He was great academically so we took fewer and fewer classes together, and he was great at sports, so I saw less of him there, too. People drift away. It's something no one tells you. By the time we graduated, we were basically strangers. He had a super-serious girlfriend (whom his family despised) and spent all his extra time with her.

For a long time, Geoff and I did everything together. We played football and baseball on my front lawn. We shot hoops in his backyard. We played video games together, roamed town on our bikes, got into water fights. When my dad and brothers took us along pheasant hunting, we were the "bird dogs" who were sent down the middle of shelter belts to flush the birds. We even brought Geoff along on a hunting trip to, I think, Lisco, Nebraska, where my dad and brothers bagged some geese for the first time. I had the feeling my brothers liked Geoff more than me. But we always had a good time. 

Geoff was proud. He had every right to be. He was really amazing at so many things. But I'll always remember him taking me under his wing when we first moved to town. For that, I will always be grateful. When, in fourth grade, I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom to throw up because I was so far behind in school and made myself sick with anxiety, the teacher sent him to check on me. I said I was fine, great, really. And I was. Because he was looking out for me. He has my eternal thanks. 

I recall being asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance one day. I didn't even know all the words. We never did that at my old school, but my new school did. It seemed strange to them I didn't know all the words. I also remember one day when we were supposed to all go to the library downstairs, I put on my coat and went home. The school office called and asked if I was sick. No, I just wanted to go home. It was too much. We forget our struggles sometimes after we go through them. I won't ever forget the struggle of those elementary years. Because my friend Geoff had my back and eventually I knew I'd be okay. 

Thanks for reading, and God bless.