I have been very fortunate over the years to have great friends and wonderful experiences but this is a interesting one.

Two weeks ago I returned a t-shirt to a friend and high school classmate.  I have had his shirt for over 30 years.  It was a yellow long sleeve with an emblem on the back that said Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax. A totally  California cool t-shirt, right?

My friend went to UC Berkeley all the way across the country.  I was at Siena College in New York.  I can picture him in high school so tall and thin- typical cross country runner.  He wore wool sweaters and I believe we went ice skating a few times.  He was a great guy, then and now.

I can’t remember, thank you menopause, how we began our pen pal relationship or how I got the t-shirt.  You see youngsters, back then, there were no cell phones, no internet and you had to wait until 9pm to call long distance because it was cheaper!  Donald and I used to talk on the phone.  I would have Happy Days on in the background on a Tuesday night.  We would chat for a while over basically nothing at all.  The Seinfeld of our times! I would wait for a letter, usually mailed in some oddball humorous way.  He once used one cent stamps all over the front of the letter in lieu of a single stamp.  I knew his handwriting as soon as I saw it.

The t-shirt, I believe came in the mail.  I loved that shirt.  I kept it all these years, through every move, vacation and road trip.  It was a very cool shirt yet I never felt the need to return it.

As I have said in the past,  Facebook is a wonderful thing and after all these years, we reconnected.  Donald and I did meet up once, in Illinois in the early 90’s. I was working for a company with their HQ in Springfield, IL. I believe he was in Champaign, IL.  We ended up meeting and going to the IL State Fair.  What fun.

One day I just felt the need to send it back.  I messengered him for his home address and shipped it off.  It was almost totally intact except for the cut in the neckband.  I cannot remember when or why I cut it. He messengered me when he received it. I was happy to return it.  Shortly thereafter I received a post card in that familiar handwriting.

Its funny how three decades went by and this Sex Wax t-shirt moved with me and my life.  I thank you Donald for your friendship over the years, the reconnection and the memories I sadly struggle to remember.

Wear it in good health. Your classmates and I hope to see you at the 40th reunion in 5 years.