Today Beth and I took the train out to Radbury NJ to visit Claire Prettitore, the wife of my Peace Corps partner, Tony. Tony passed away about ten years ago, but we continue to see Claire when the opportunity occurs. We took the train from Penn Station meaning that we had the NYC experience of taking the subway to the station and then the commuter train to the suburbs. Our usual conversation with Claire in which each of us reports on the doings of our children lasted the afternoon and then into an early bird dinner. Tony and Claire raised four boys and a girl all of whom have professional careers in a variety of fields, and places. They are now past the age of their dad when he and I shared a year in Peru. Three of them have come to look like him and seeing their pictures brought back thoughts and memories I hadn't expected. Tony was a few years older than me, and when I was 23 or 24 that was a quarter of my lifetime. He was a considerable influence. I flatter myself to think that I learned to be a better person in my time with him. Not wanting to stir hurtful memories for Claire I didn't talk about it with her, but I thought about how much of life I have enjoyed in the last ten years and how sad it is that Tony and his family did not get a similar experience. It was Tony who taught me to love my friends. He was a good guy.
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