Visits with old friends

Here's something I never thought about until one cold morning in January 2026.  Every day it's part of my wake-up routine to scroll down the list of memories facebook puts up. Today there were several replies posted by two friends who have died in recent years. As the realization dawned on me there were sudden moments of sadness. But soon enough I realized in a way they are still with me and for a few moments I am again connecting with them and sharing brief interludes and fond memories with each one. After this was posted, another friend (living) wrote about similar experiences. She likened them to social visits.

And there was this follow-up: Here's an example: A few days after I posted about the warmth in reading memory conversations with friends who have died, this came across talking about writing with a friend:

"Joe May

What about the blood on the floor, Tim???

Tim Jones

Beads of it dripping like perspiration from your brow.

Joe May

This evokes an image of someone hunched over an old Underwood typewriter pecking away by the light of a Coleman lantern. The raw plywood floor around his chair is spattered with new and old stains of blood, sweat, and tears. The rusty oil drum stove is surrounded by empty ravioli cans and ice cream cartons. How close is this?

Tim Jones

You just described the 10 x 14 cabin on the Susitna River where I wrote The Last Great Race. My typewriter was an office upright that dated back to the 1930s that I bought from the Chicago Tribune when I worked there. The only thing missing from your picture is the ermine who used to venture out onto the open floor, stand up on his hind legs and look at me like I was crazy."

    

 Since that time I have paid more attention to the comments on posts in my memories lists. Even if I find only one it shines a warm light into the approaching day. Joe and I had several conversations like this one, thinking I might post a few more as I come across them.

 

A serious shortage

Here's another one of those "Memories" social visits: 

April 14, 2021 Tim Jones ·

Can somebody tell me why there's a Dinty Moore Beef Stew shortage. Is it a pandemic thing? Hoarding canned stew. I haven't seen any in my stores since maybe early February. Other brands yes, but not Dinty Moore. This is serious. 

Joe May I bought 2 cans around Christmas. Hope I'm not responsible.

Report when you find more.

Tim Jones

Author

I could blame you if I hadn’t bought more than that in December for my winter supply; no more than usual though. I always leave at least one on the shelf.

Johnny Augustus Vespillo Newman

I love Dinty Moore

Tim Jones

Author

Do you know where the name came from?

Johnny Augustus Vespillo Newman

i do not

Tim Jones

He was a character in the Popeye comics

Joe May

He was cook on a tugboat I worked on in 1957. He baked his cakes on both sides. He also drank a lot, both on and off the job.

RECIPE CHAT

April 19, 2015  ·

Shared with Your friends

Enough of this. No more Facebook recipes. Garlic and brown sugar glazed chicken is not nearly as good as it sounds.

Emma Silver —Lol I'm with you

Carla Helfferich —Too bad--it does sound good.

Kitty Delorey Fleischman — I used to think you couldn't use too much garlic until I put six bulbs in a hummus recipe. When it was finally edible, I had about a gallon of it.

Joe May — I have a recipe for smoked salmon dip that I don't even share with Sandra. Women just don't seem to understand the alchemy of dead fish. I had considered putting it in my will for eldest son but If you're interested, let me know....

Kate KT McKee — I could say something really crass here in response to Joe, but will let him off the hook this time.

Joe May — Old Scandinavian humor, Kate. No offense intended.

Tim Jones — Joe, as long as there's no brown sugar in that dip recipe I'd love to have it.