Quite a few years ago when I was living in Medford a new guy started at the dealership. Rob is a big guy…6′4″ and about 320 pounds. He was my boy. We used to go out shooting at the range every week for a few months. When we moved from Medford he came to visit about 6 months later shortly before he shipped out. At that point he asked if we would look after his daughter if something were to happen to him. Yeah, he asked us to be her Godparents.
Shortly after Sept. 11 Rob was shipped to Iraq. He spent a year there and I flew back to Medford the day after he got home. His “wife” was in Texas with his daughter so it was just the two of us hanging out. We looked up old friends, got tattooed (I got 5 done at once) and drank WAY too much. Ok, so he was the designated driver most the time so I drank WAY too much…one night there was around 3 pitchers. I was there for a few days and then flew home. Rob left for Texas 2 days after I left.
Back in 2005 Rob’s girlfriend (yeah, he got divorced) flew us down to Texas for his Father’s Day present. We were there for a week and Nutty was completely hooked on Uncle Rob’s stories.
Last year Rob’s divorce was getting finalized and there was a custody battle. Talked to him in October just before the last custody hearing. Haven’t heard from him since. Tried calling and email and recently texting. Granted part of the time it was difficult to keep in contact with him. There were times the phone wasn’t working or no access to email so….
In any case, it is difficult to keep friends. So it is best to keep in contact regularly.
Update: 08-20-09….Did get back in touch with Rob’s girlfriend (who became his wife) about 3 months ago. Things have been rough for him, and if he ever reads this…Dude, you always got friends out here!
