Trying to find an old friend's email

[450knotOffice]

Guys, I've located my childhood/young adult best friend after almost twenty years of lost contact. I actually have his phone number and found him on MySpace too, although he's been inactive there since March. I'm a bit reluctant at this time to cold-all him out of the blue, so I sent him a MySpace friend request and am hoping he'll respond. However, what I'd really like to do is email him and say HI that way, but I'm finding it extremely difficult to find his email address (for free). Interestingly enough, I was able to find his address and his phone number for free, but emails seem to be much harder to come by.

Do any of you guys know how to find someone's email without having to sign up for some "service"?

Thanks guys.

[porsche4life]

Can you not email direct through Myspace? Or is his email addy listed on his page?

[450knotOffice]

Well, I sent him a message and a friend request, but according to his site, he hasn't logged in since March. I'd like to email him directly as opposed to a request through a third party, such as MySpace, although I have done that already.

[pwd72s]

You have his address? Silly of me to mention this in today's digital world, but have you ever considered an envelope, a stamp, with a letter inside?

[450knotOffice]

Well, I actually have his phone number too. I'll probably just call him if he doesn't respond by tomorrow morning.

[Zeke]

I think Paul has a point, Most "snail" mail is actually quite fast. Send a nice greeting card.

[450knotOffice]

I'll do that if I need to. I'm certainly not opposed to it.

[jyl]

Bwahhaha LOL ROFL.

Oh, sorry.

You have his address? Silly of me to mention this in today's digital world, but have you ever considered an envelope, a stamp, with a letter inside?

[450knotOffice]

Comment noted, but doesn't answer the question. In this day and age, the last resort for me is to use snail mail (unless I am sending a Thank You card to someone). Heck, I'll call him tomorrow morning. I just though one of you might be able to help me find his email address without me having to sign up for some service that will charge me $5 to $40. A pre-emptive email is a good way to break the ice before I surprise him with a call out of the blue tomorrow morning.

Thanks anyway.

[Bill Douglas]

In situations like this I send a postcard. A lot less formal (intimidating) than an envelope and letter. And easier as a first contact after all these years than a phone call.

I sent a Christmas card to an old best buddy last Christmas but haven't heard anything back. If I located him, he can locate me (online whitepages) if he wants to. We had a falling out 30 years ago when his GF was borrowing quite a lot of money off everyone, including me, spending it on good living (and drugs) and not paying it back.

[Rusty Heap]

www.411.com

[Rick Lee]

I don't do MySpace, but on Facebook, even if you haven't logged in for months, you still get an email notification of friend requests.

[450knotOffice]

Yea. I haven't looked at MySpace in months, but I found his MySpace page, so I sent him a message.

I'll take a look at 411.com Thanks.

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

www.411.com

Thanks for the link.
On a whim, I searched for my girlfriend from the '80s. We'd had no contact for 20 years but ended up having a 2 hour phone conversation.

1989;


2009;

[450knotOffice]

Wow, man. She looks pretty damn good.

[Joeaksa]

Try finding him on Facebook. You can message him directly from there.

[fireant911]

Scott,
I had an old Navy buddy that I met 22 years ago. I spent a considerable amount of time and resourses over the past seven or eight years to find him. A few months back, during yet another of my searches, I came across a picture and phone number on the Internet of my old friend listing him as a deacon of a church in TN (his home state). From the picture, I KNEW it was my friend and called. By name, it was my friend but much had transpired in the last twenty-two years and he was not the guy I knew before. In fact, his response was as exciting as one gets from receiving a phone call from a telemarketer during dinner.

Just be understanding that sometimes people change and friends in the past may be destined to remain as friends in the past. I hope your story has a happier ending...

[Joeaksa]

Daryl,

Agree and know exactly how you feel. My Brother was on the USS Oriskany (among others) carrier just after the Korean war. One visit with him and he mentioned missing his old shipmates. He is getting up in age and just turned 67, so not a kid anymore.

I got my laptop out and logged onto www.military.com and within a few minutes had found his old squadron and then found one of his crib mates. Sent him an email and later that afternoon the two were in touch. It was like 50 years had vanished and the two were best buddies again.

Sometimes it works and sometimes people have changed. Its well worth the try...

Joe A

[450knotOffice]

Thanks Daryl and Joe. I cold called his home yesterday and spoke with his wife for a bit, who enthusiastically gave me his work email and his cell phone number. I told his wife that I'd surprise him by texting him. Not two minutes after I sent the text, he called and we spoke for about fifteen minutes. Later, he sent pictures via email and likewise, I did the same.

So far so good. He's due to come out here in a few weeks anyway, so we'll probably grab some dinner and a few brews and try to catch up.