Day: October 29, 2017

30 day challenge day 3…letter to my best friend

download (12)Dear Friend:

You are on the very exclusive 3 AM friend list. The guy that I could call at 3 AM and you would come and do anything to help me. Your friendship knows no bounds, not that I am likely to test that statement.

Miles now separate us but I think of you often. Of course, you are always reachable by phone or by text. You will always answer no matter how busy you are because that’s the kind of guy you are. You have an uncanny ability to know when I am struggling and calling me. I don’t know how you do it. When we see each other your first reaction is often “are you ok?” Sometimes I am not ok, you are correct. Sometimes I need to hear the voice of reason and reality. I can always count on you for the truth. And I need that. Because you’re also really smart, way smarter than me, but you would never rub that in my face.

I miss coming over for Scotch and Cigars. I feel like I’m pulling you away from your wife and kids. But you need the “me time”.  I have such high regard for you as a family man but I also know that you have the kids dumped in your lap the second you walk through the door and you need to have an hour and a half distraction. I’m happy to provide it, no need to thank me for it. It sometimes bothers me how she treats you and yet you never say a bad word about her. You tell me what bothers you over a cigar but you never stoop to insult her, I admire you for that. You’re a good man who continues to put everyone else first and you don’t have a mean bone in your giant body.

We are unlikely friends. We both joined “the club” at the same time and went through the courses at the same pace and emerged best friends. It’s probable that we would like each other, but not be like brothers in 3 months. The one thing we had in common was that we were both very open people that appreciated lack of pretense and honesty. I needed a friend like you and the timing was perfect.

Since then you have supported me, visited me when I was sick, invited me to your beautiful home and listened to me, in particular, last year as my life completely fell apart. You have never judged me and I can’t thank you enough for that.

Please know that your friendship has sustained me during those times when I thought I had no one in my life to turn to and I hope that we continue on this path. I only hope that someday there will be something that I can do for you, Please know that I will so with the entirety of my resources If I am able.

I hope you share my attitude that good friends pick up where they left off, no matter how much time has passed. I am working some shit out right now and I’m doing the best I can with it and I may not be the friend I want to be for a while. But when I am, you will be the first person I call. Until then, the phone is all that I have I hope it is good enough.

If I die tomorrow, you will go down as one of the very few people who really knew me. Many think they do but they don’t. You made the effort.

Peace and love man,

your bud

talking to strangers

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While walking by I say “how are you”

Your look tells me you don’t know what to do

I don’t blame you, I’m scared too

I’m on the lookout for the drop of the next shoe

But consider this, my skeptical stranger

I may be the good guy who poses no danger

I wish I had a badge, some kind of label

That says “I wouldn’t hurt you, I’m simply not able”

But a simple greeting knocks you way off track

Once I’m past you there’s no getting it back

“Your loss”, I will say, under my breath

I will continue to do this until the day of my death

 

Someone has to start a chain of good will

It takes little effort and no special skill

Let’s offset the anger, the hatred and division

With kindness and empathy embark on a mission

Effective immediately, as early as today

Let’s change our thinking and find a new way

To talk and discuss, with respect to each other

Not yell, argue and fight with our brother

This challenge is doable, but not for the weak

Can you halt and taste your words before you speak?

We need to do something, the situation is dire

If cooler heads don’t prevail…well here comes the fire

It’s really quite simple, the words easy to say

Ready, here we go…”have a nice day!”