thanks for the kind words everyone. Really the point was "go and catch up before it's too late" more than "feel sorry for me", but I appreciate the sentiment (i hope that statement didn't come off wrong, it can be difficult to word things liek that for me)

As an update, while I've been getting in touch with others from my own past to catch up and say hi - i found another formerly close friend has passed away. So this process has a very sharp double edged sword.

Passage of time - 2
Coyotemax - 0