It Started with A Phone Call - Just One Thing

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The phone call came at about 4pm, It showed as unknown number, you know, one of those you normally don’t answer and then block straight away, for some reason I didn’t.

Is that Russell, the voice on the other end said, I learnt a long time to never say ‘Yes’ on calls like this, so I responded in my usual way , with a question, Who is this, I said, getting ready to tell them to remove me from their list.

You may not remember me, My name is Ian, and we used to go to school together.

At this point I am about to hang up, because as some of you may be aware, I have no memory of school, so an Ian meant nothing to me. However curiosity got the better of me and I said I don’t recall an Ian, where did you get my number.

Oh, he said, I bumped into your mother on the bus and she remembered me so I asked about your, she told me you lived up there and passed on your number, this was a while ago now, but as it happens I have to come up- there for a day because I am the guest speaker at the film makers conference next week and I thought it would be great to catch up. I am planning on spending two nights and a day there before I have to fly back.

OK I said, still not really knowing who Ian was, but thought it would be an interesting experience to meet up with him, maybe a conversation with him would bring back some recollection. Have you already booked accommodation I said?

I have, I am staying out at the resort just out of town, that’s where the conference is and they have booked me in.

Sounds great, give me a call when you get here and we will arrange a time to catch up.
Ian arrived the next week, I got the call and we arranged to go out for Dinner that night, not too late he said I have to give my talk tomorrow.

We met up, and I still didn’t know who Ian was, He had an old school photo and showed me which one he was, Slight recollection as I remember the face but don’t remember the person. Fortunately Ian was aware of my memory issue and regaled me with lots of stories about myself and him from way way back, 70’s. My Partner was very amused as she had not heard any of these because, well I don’t remember them.

Turns out that we were quite good friends and spent a good deal of time hanging out, got up to all kinds of mischief.

We talked and talked , his interest was Film, and I have quite an interest myself in this area, turns out we have a great deal in common in our adult lives, so the talk just kept happening, The restaurant kicked us out at midnight and we went into the lobby and talked some more.

At 3am he looked at his watch and had to dash, his talk was at 11am that same morning. However before he left we decided we would also catch up after the conference and chat some more.

Again we regaled ourselves with tales of our lives and went out to a meal. After the meal I said come back to our house and we went back and talked some more.

When it got quite late again, Ian went to leave and I said, no, its too late to drive, we have a guest room all made up and ready to go, we would be very happy for you to stay as our guest. Great he said,

We both had a chuckle at the guest speaker being our guest

Ian flew out the next day, however we have agreed to keep in touch and whenever I am done there I am to be his guest and likewise.

Even friendships forgotten can rekindle when one is willing to accommodate. Had I taken my usual stance when I received that Phone call. I still would not have known who Ian is.

I still don’t remember Ian, but at least now I know a little more about who he is now.

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11 comments
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Great story! Funny to see two birds on a branch as your article photo as birds feature as guests in my post too!

I can't remember the last time I answered the phone, so the only way I'd know if an old school friend had telephoned would be if he left a message on the answering machine.

Did any of his stories spark any recollections for you?

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Hi David, @hirohurl Unfortunately no recollections, he could have been making them all up, we did pour over a couple of old school photos and he knew peoples names, I was unsure, maybe a twinge of recollection there.

Part of having lost all those years was my brothers used to tell me stuff when I saw them and they too could have been making it all up. anything pre 17 totally gone and even a few years after that somewhat foggy.

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awn so lovely, even with the loss of memory, we never changed our likeness never changed, so if we meet someone we used to like in the past, we will get to like them again even if we dont remember what we shared in the past...

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Amazing story my friend, must have been a strange feeling for you even though it turned out positive very interesting and nice.
Have a wonderful day
@russellstockley !ALIVE !CTP 😎

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I love your story. My phone came with a feature that allows me to screen calls. I use this for every number I don't know. Thanks for sharing.

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This is a great story. Even if you do not recall his stories you seem to have clicked and have many things in common.

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(Edited)

This is an awesome story, so glad you took that call!

It reminds me of a dear friend who once told me about "The Power of Yes" - many times I used to say "No" to anything that got me out of my plans, or routine, and also when he invited me to assist to a dance performance. I just gave him my usual "No" but he insisted. Now, assisting to this performance allowed me to meet people that a few days later were supporting one of my own music performances, and with whom I still talk today.

The Power of Yes.

That's what it does. Again, so glad you took that call!

Best regards @russellstockley, blessings, !PIZZA, and !HBIT.

- EvM

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