Idealist

When my best friend was dying, the nurses told me it would probably be her last day. My car was in the shop, but my father wouldn't allow me to take his car or watch my son for me - said he didn't want me in that neighborhood at night. In an awkward way, he was trying to shelter me from the pain of seeing my friend die.

She died that night, and I was furious with my father. It was the first time I was too angry to say anything to him, and he was too afraid to say anything to me. I let it go because I knew he meant well.

However, his actions made me take the hard road. I didn't get the chance to tell her how much our friendship meant to me, and I didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

You're in that position now with your friend. If you can, contact his family and pass a message on to him. If not, keep him in your prayers. He'll know your friendship meant a lot to you, and he'll know you would have liked the chance to say goodbye in person.

You and your friend Jimmy will be in my prayers.