I have an 85-year-old friend, just as everyone should. The age difference allows you to learn hidden life secrets and the importance of friendships. He's witnessed events in history that I've only read in books.
This man is not only a friend, but a mentor.
Wilbur Tincher is a legend with my friends. I've only known him a short while, but he has changed my life. He's an 85-year-old man with a jovial spirit and an infectious smile.
When he laughs, you can't help but smile.
Having an older friend can change your outlook on the world. With his wisdom and my naivete, we make quite a pair.
Everyone should have an older friend. All of the reasons can be boiled down to three simple reasons, here's why: food, hugs and stories.
With older people, food is always on the agenda. When you visit Wilbur, he serves you biscuits and gravy, green tea and Klondike bars. It may be a weird combination, but for some reason they go together. It's not necessarily the combination of food, but the company that is special.
I've always believed in the power of hugs. When I met Wilbur, I didn't know the true power a hug can harness. The embrace of another human being can change the outlook of the day. A warm embrace can change the way you see other people and can restore your hope for humanity.
The best stories are the ones from history, the ones that don't make the books. Those are the stories that make the bonds between humans stronger. As a journalist, I've always felt everyone has a story to tell. There is something magical about hearing history from a first hand perspective. These stories seem purer and more meaningful.
What have I learned from having an 85-year-old friend? It's quite difficult to say.
I've learned to love more and love deeper because of the friendship with Wilbur. I've learned how to treat others and how my actions truly affect people.
You never know the impact you may have on someone. Wilbur taught me that.
He once said meeting his young friends gives him a reason to get up in the morning and a reason to get out of his house. Wilbur once told me that he laughed when people told him young people will keep him youthful, but he now sees the truth in the cliche.
I am not Wilbur's only college-aged friend, and I am glad of that. I am not the only person who benefits from his spirit and kindness, but there are countless students who are blessed to witness his friendship.
People may think he's my grandpa, but what's a grandpa? An older man who provides guidance. So in some ways, I guess he is my grandpa.
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