THE TWO BEST LIFETIME FRIENDS I EVER HAD CAME RIGHT FROM ALDERSON. I BUILT STRONG LIFETIME BONDS WITH AL MCLAUGHLIN AND ALLEN GALLOWAY, TWO OF THE FINEST MEN EVER CREATED, BOTH HELPED ME AND DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE THEY HELPED ME AND EVEN SAVED MY LIFE BY NUANCES AND CONTACT. THESE MEN ARE PART OF MY WONDERFUL LIFE.

ALSO A THIRD DISTANT FRIEND IN ALDERSON WAS A BIG STRONG COUNTRY BOY NAMED JULIUS EARY.

JUPE, AS I CALLED HIM, AND I USED TO ARM WRESTLE TO SEE WHO HAD THE STRONGEST GRIP AND REALLY JUST TO SEE WHO WAS THE STRONGEST PHYSICALLY. JUPE AND I BOTH AGREED FRED SMITH, ANOTHER CLASSMATE, HAD THE STRONGEST GRIP EITHER OF US EVER EXPERIENCED.

JUPE LIVES IN BALTIMORE AND WE HAVE NOT STAYED IN CONTACT AS WE SHOULD, BUT WE SURE ENJOYED EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP.

IN OUR BRIGHT LIGHT FRIDAY NIGHTS WHEN THE FROST WAS THERE AS WE LINED UP FOR FOOTBALL GAMES, JUPE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I USED TO TALK TO JUPE AND SAY THINGS LIKE “ I HOPE THEY KICK IT TO GALLOWAY” AND JUPE WOULD SAY, “IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US RIGHT?”

WE HAD A LOT OF THOSE DEEP TALKS. JUPE USED TO GO TO BASKETBALL GAMES WHERE HIS “CITY” FRIEND PLAYED AND HE WOULD YELL MEMORABLE PHRASES SUCH AS “HE WAS LUCKY HUGHES” AND “PUT IT TO EM BIG HUGHES”.

IT WAS A REAL HOOT JUPE, THE OLDER I GET THE MORE IT IS APPRECIATED.

GOOD LUCK, I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.