“Hello Darkness My Old Friend” is one of the most poignant song opening lines ever. Penned by Paul Simon, the phrase starts off the iconic “The Sound Of Silence” song by the best-selling duo, Simon and Garfunkel.
“The Sound Of Silence” is an enduring song about true friendship – between Art Garfunkel and Sanford “Sandy” Greenberg. When Sandy suddenly experienced blindness due to glaucoma, Garfunkel and Sandberg made a life-long pact to be there for each other. Three cheers to life-long pacts.
Garfunkel called himself “Darkness” in a show of solidarity and empathy to his blind friend. And “the Walrus was Paul”.
Once as Garfunkel was guiding Sandy in the forecourt of the vast Grand Central Station, Garfunkel said he suddenly had to leave abruptly for an urgent appointment, abandoning his blind friend. Sandy suffered trauma and tremendous physical harm in the terrifying ordeal of making it back to Columbia University where he was a student.
Unbeknownst to Sandy, Garfunkel was there watching his friend all along, wanting to transform his self-pitying friend into a self-assured and independent one.
Sandy not only graduated but went on to do his Masters degree at Harvard and Oxford. While studying in Oxford, Garfunkel wanted drop out of architecture school to record his first album with Paul Simon and he needed $400 to get started. For Sanford, this request was the first time he could live up to his half of the friends’ life-long pact.
Sandy, a proud father of three, who does not rely on a walking stick or a guide dog, is an inventor, entrepreneur, investor, presidential advisor and philanthropist.
Six decades later, Garfunkel and Greenberg are still friends. Do Google for more details of the life and achievements of Sanford “Sandy” Greenberg.
In today’s divisive and suspicious world, here’s to trust and life-long pacts between true friends. My late Mom taught me decades ago, when you can count your true, reliable friends on one hand, you are very fortunate.
