Everyone has an oldest friend. That one person who kept in touch over the years regardless of time gaps, life changing events or disagreements. Even Chris Jungle has an oldest buddy. For the sake of anonymity, let's call this friend Evan. Chris and Evan met in fifth grade and didn't get along very well, mostly because of Chris' stubbornness against the more popular kids. In seventh grade they became best friends, playing D & D, dropping quarters at the arcade, and shooting hoops in the driveway. Evan moved away after their eighth grade year, but the boys continued to write and call each other sporadically over the rest of their childhood and on into adulthood. Last week, Evan had to deal with more life than he expected.

Everyone has a grandfather, and Evan's grandfather is near death. His health has been failing for some time now, and members of the family made several pilgrimages in the last year to pay their respects. The most recent trip for Evan would be his final one. As per the wishes of the grandfather, the final cycle of life was upon him. He brought his relatives together one more time, and his ten favorites shared shots of an aged bottle of Jamison that the elder had been saving. A final tribute to the old man. Due to the laws of this country, I will not go into the details of how he will pass except to say that grandfather called his own shot and will fade away to the netherworld with the help of modern medicine. Whatever morals or beliefs a person has on euthanasia, all I will say is that you don't know what you will do until you're directly faced with the option.

Everyone has an accident. Evan was a little distracted after returning from his last trip to see his grandfather and decided to cut the grass. While working the old mower down an incline, he slipped. His instincts told him to grab the mower which knocked the metal beast up into the air and his foot slid underneath. The most fortunate element was that it was an old mower and the blade weren't razor sharp. His two biggest toes got sliced to the bone, and an ambulance came howling. A good mower would have taken the toes clean off. It looks like he will keep his toes, but his basketball career aspirations look to be done. That first step will never be the same. Who drafts a thirty-year-old 5' 10 white guy anyway?

Everyone has compassion. While Evan is cooped up with bandages and crutches, he will have a little company. His wife manages a local facility that assists the poor and mentally ill, and a few weeks ago, a schizophrenic mother came in with a baby boy. She stated that the child would sit up and tell her things. The delusions and ramblings of the mother were taken in stride at first, but as the days went on, it was clear that the boy's life was in danger. When she said the boy told her he could swim, the State took the child away from her, fearing a drowning. He has been staying at Evan's place since then, and the couple was given temporary custody over the child as foster parents. The mother has since skipped town, literally joining the circus.

Everyone has the ability to surprise themselves. Evan has adjusted to instant fatherhood with shocking ease. Without warning, he and his wife were flung into caring for a crying, needy thing, and they found out that they could handle it quite well. Next month, their temporary custody runs out, and they plan file to be the boy's permanent guardians. Just like that. No pregnancy, no planning, and suddenly parents. It's not part of the natural cycle of life, but it's still a pretty incredible series of events.

Everyone needs stories like this. We get plenty of explanations about how Palestinians and Israelis can't get along, how bloodshed has struck a quiet community, or how some little girl is kidnapped. Well, this week, Evan's story beat out all the man-made horrors in the world. A grandfather passes, an accident ensues, and a son enters. No one prepares for all these incidents to happen at the same time, but they can occur nonetheless. It's tough to lose loved ones, it's just as tough accidentally mutilate yourself, and it's unimaginably tough to raise a child. It's all part of the cycle of life. One soul disappears, and another one enters. Maybe it's not so unnatural.

Everyone has an oldest friend, even Chris Jungle. And thank goodness for that. Evan looks at his new predicament as an opportunity to give a child with no hope a fighting chance at a decent life. No matter how many toes he has, Evan gets a shot to be the father he never had himself. Here's to you, old buddy. Although we're the most ancient of friends, you still find ways to surprise and impress me.

Chris Jungle is part of everyone.