The way the world turns Part 1

I have some special memories of growing up, mostly I remember the PEOPLE that joined me on that journey and I always smile fondly when I remember the crazy times we had. Although the years steal from us the specifics like times, dates and sometimes places, the memories of good and happy times remain.

When I was a teenager, I had a great group of friends, girls and boys. We did stupid things, stayed out later than we should, did things that our parents had no clue about, went to parties that we shouldn't have gone to, roamed the streets into the small hours, and laughed alot! We were open to almost any new experience. When I look back we had conversations that would shape us and although we had no chance of ever remembering the details of them we were growing up in front of each other and they were fun times. We got to know each other in a way that only PEOPLE who grow up together do. We made special bonds that we knew would last a lifetime and shared moments that will remain in my memory forever. This is a small town which means I sometimes come across the PEOPLE that I grew up alongside. I love bumping into them, reminiscing and laughing at our shared memories.

One of the PEOPLE that shared my formative years was Lee. He was bigger than average and so was his laugh, he seemed to understand 'the girls' and didn't care what PEOPLE said about the fact that he spent most of his time with my little clique of 3. He had a sweet nature and was a natural mediator, he gave great hugs and knew how to stop the flow of teenage tears. Lee was the kind of friend that you wanted around when there was trouble. He was a peace maker and a care taker and I could not count the number of times he got me home safely. He respected my parents and was very scared of my dad (everyone was!). I forget now how we ever lost touch, but we did until recently.

Lee now works with young PEOPLE, some of them troubled, something that doesn't surprise me in the slightest, neither does his passion for boxing. Combine the two and you have a recipe for making a difference. My family is involved in the boxing scene and so this is how our paths crossed again. He is a coach and corner man in the amateur game.

My son has just been introduced to the sport and had his first bout last night, which he won in spectacular style. I didn't go to the show and so it wasn't until afterwards that I found out that at this crucial point in my sons life, his first time in the ring, that his corner man was Lee.

That is how the world turns and that made last night all the more special for me.