About a week ago, I received a call from my oldest friend, Joey Rashbaum. He called me to tell me that he was moving to California in a few weeks. While I am of course, happy for him, I’m sad for me. I’ve known Joey for twenty-two years and his phone call got me thinking how much we have been through together – and how important it is to have a friend.

When I was three years old, I was sitting in the sandbox of Neighborhood Playhouse, and in walked a little boy who wanted to play with me, his name was Joey Rashbaum. Twenty-two years later, we are still friends; the only difference is we rarely have time to play in the sandbox anymore.

Joey and I have shared so much together. I introduced him to his girlfriend Sharon, who is another dear friend of mine, I remember his younger sister Andrea when she was his “baby” sister, and his parents were as kind and loving to me as my parents.

Joey has been there for me when I have had some of my happiest moments, and some of my saddest. He helped me get through the loss of my father, and when I was in camp, he would send me letters about his favorite TV show, The Twilight Zone that would have me looking for the mail guy.

Do you have a best friend? If you do, call your best friend and hang out with them this weekend, reminisce about the happy times that you have had. Be best friends, listen to each other, and learn more about each other, before one of you moves away.

I am going to miss Joey. I will forever cherish the memories that we had and it will be hard not to see him as much anymore. I guess I’ll have to trek to L.A.