I went to High School with Josh. He was my best and only friend there. We did everything together. We met for breakfast, had classes together, ate lunch together and walked home together. 2 months before starting our junior year, his dad got a job in Texas, so his family moved. But we never stopped talking to each other. I called him once a week and we emailed like a million times a week. Josh graduated from high school the same day I did, but I was in Minnesota and he was Texas. It was heartbreaking. It was hard not being able to see him, but we managed to stay amazing friends even from across the country.
Not many people around here knew him. He wasn't a friend that came over after school. I had horse back riding and he had football, hockey and track. He was a very busy guy. We told each other about every practice, game and show. Including all the things we missed up on. Like the time he ran for a touchdown. He was like 4 yards from the goal and realized he was heading to the wrong end zone. It was really funny. His coach didn't think so, but I did.
After high school, he got a job working at a sports equipment store. He was saving up money to go to school for anything in sports. He wanted to come back up here for school. He said he missed the snow, I said he was crazy. He really wanted to coach high school or college sports teams. It was his dream.
I will never forget him. I will never forget the silly little things he used to do. First thing in the morning, as soon as we saw each other, he would yell "GOOOOOOD MORNING LITTLE BUDDY!!!!!!!" (He was taller then me by like 6 inches, so he called me his little buddy) And most mornings I would tell him to go to hell, because I am not a morning person, nor did I enjoy being called his Little Buddy. I'm not that short. I only looked short standing next to him, but everyone who stood next to him looked short. I will never forget the way he would talk about my art. He did it in a horrible rich english person accent. Saying "I say my dear, that has to be the most ghastly painting I have ever seeennnnnnn." Every sentence in this voice had the last letter held for several seconds. And my paintings were always terrible or ghastly or dreadful. But his favorite thing to say about them was " That thing looks like death." Thanks Josh. The worst thing he ever did to me was at a pep fest. The dean was telling us about the new lunch schedule, and Josh raised his hand. The dean called on him in a questioning voice and Josh said : Mr. O, Which Pokemon is the greatest one ever?" The entire room started laughing. The dean was like, what? And Josh said " Kate thinks it's Charmander, but I think it's Rattata. I mean, come on. He can learn Growl. How cool is that!" And of course, the dean had to ask if it was true and why I thought that Charmander was the best. I said " Um, because he hangs out with a turtle, a moving, talking leaf and a rat that shocks people. How freaking cool is that." (I didn't was the word freaking, I used a less tolerated f word) the entire place was laughing and I am turning just about as red as Charmander's tail. Josh thought it was the funniest thing in the world, and I ended up with detention. Again, Thanks Josh.
I will always remember the goofy things he did, the intense way he talked about sports and how he could make me laugh at anything. I miss you buddy.
RIP Josh <3