Tom and Dave flank me today at King David’s Restaurant.

Yes, 40-plus years can go by like the blink of an eye.

It was indeed back in the 1980s when sports editor Tom Boll hired me at The Syracuse Post-Standard as his assistant. A year later, David Elfin joined the staff to cover the Syracuse University men’s basketball beat.

Ink ran through the presses and our veins.

David left after a handful of years to cover the Washington Redskins in the nation’s capital; Tom and I remained at The Post-Standard for many decades, sitting at other desks but always staying in touch, with each other and David.

He drove north for a quick visit and included time for a long lunch conversation for we old friends.

The food and talk were tasty.

Bonds indeed can remain strong over so many decades.