You made me think about my friend who passed away four years ago. She was about four years older than me, which means her life cut short when she was at my age now.
Now I finally recovered a little from that shock. I reached out to her hu*****and as I feel I can face his new family without tear in my eyes. He remarried two months after his wife passed away.
Your friend would be very happy to see you have so much fond memory of him. I almost feel he is reading this and smiling.