When I was 7, something small but meaningful happened. Our mailman, Bob, stopped to give my dog some water on a hot day. That simple act of kindness sparked a bond that lasted for years. From that moment on, I walked his route with him after school—every day for nearly 7 years. We shared stories, sipped lemonade on the porch, and exchanged little holiday gifts. Bob wasn’t just a mailman to me; he became a friend, someone I looked forward to seeing each day.

Then, as life often does, it moved on. We lost touch, and time marched forward. But a few weeks ago, something wonderful happened. I was out and about when I heard someone call my name. I turned, and there he was—Bob, arms wide open, as if no time had passed at all. My heart leapt.

I introduced him to my kids, and before long, we were spending afternoons fishing at his pond, laughing and chatting as though we had never been apart. It was like we had picked up right where we left off, and the years that had passed melted away in the warmth of that reunion.

Some people have a way of making the world a little brighter simply by being themselves. For me, that person is Bob—the mailman who gave my dog a drink of water and, in doing so, gave me a friend for life.