"John"

50 years ago this fall, I started attending Arts High School in Newark. I was 14 and my life was in turmoil because I lived at home with my mom and a VERY abusive step-father who had me constantly in fear of his violent (verbal and physical) attacks.  At Arts High I met a guy, via my Art teacher, who was a few years older than I but a really, really great guy.  Ironically, his name was JOHN (same name as my step-father), but THIS John had and has a very calm, predictable demeanor and was always encouraging...he was as different from the OTHER John as night was from day!!

Like a big brother that I never had, God used John to get me out of my crazy house several times, which I appreciated very much.  See, he drove (I didn't) and I recall a trip we took to the New England area for a few days in Fall of 1969 to visit some friends.  John always listened patiently to my gripes about my home situation, with sage advice coupled by a calming influence.  He saw school as being "prison-like" (as I did)  and we STILL have that in common, by the way!! Also, in the Summer of '71, I distinctly remember John picking me up to take me to see the car-racing movie "Two Lane Blacktop" with James Taylor, Dennis Wilson and Warren Oates at a time was my step-father was REALLY acting up (before he went to jail for good) and I was very, very grateful for the "escape."  (Again, I did not DRIVE yet.) John is a MUCH more accomplished artist than I am (I got into WRITING at Arts High and Art took a back burner), but still, I knew enough ABOUT art that John and I had that in common, and our mutual Art teacher friend  encouraged our friendship, ALSO as SHE was aware of the turmoil in my home at that time. God was blessing me with these people even before I knew or served Him!!  They helped "get me through" that dark period.

After that time, (Summer 1971), I didn't see John for DECADES because when school started in the fall HE went to college, and I continued in high school until I dropped out in '72.

John and I lost contact with each other but three years ago, after 45 years I reached out to John via FACEBOOK and for the past three years, we've talked on the phone regularly. Since 1971, of course we'd both married and had children and we did a LOT of catching up on the phone!! He was someone I could talk to when Beth passed away into Heaven, and listened "encouragingly" as I began to court, then remarry, Mercedes.  And.......John was visiting relatives back here in Jersey recently, so on Sunday night, for the first time in 48 years we met face-to-face for about three hours and it was GREAT. I'm thankful to God that John was in my life THEN and that he's here AGAIN.  I have not seen the OTHER John (my step-father) since the summer of '71...nor would I have any desire to, if I could...but THIS John (above left) is a truly great person and I'm so grateful we've reconnected on the TAIL end of that "Two Lane Blacktop" we call Life.  I truly believe that John and I will be friends forever!!