Friendship...None of that touchy-feely shit

Got this the other day in an email....brilliant

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cute little smiley faces on this ~ Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in. . .

4. When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.

5. When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.

7. When you are sick ~ Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have. . .

8. When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.

9. This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.

Friendship is like peeing in your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

Send this to 10 of your closest friends.

Then get depressed because you can only think of 4.

lonely...obstinate...or tenacious?

I was out in Concord today doing a little work at my kids house, when I noticed how sunny the day was turning out. I needed a break and a smoke, so I thought I would go out to the garage and admire the view.

The sky was clear blue, clearer than I normally see in the city, and great big puffy clouds moved through here and there...the sun making them look perfectly white as they rolled by.

Standing in the garage doorway, I started to take in that once familiar landscape and I began to look for the changes in it since moving out five years ago. A grown shrub here, a taller tree there...when I started to examine the tree to my right to see how it had changed.

It's a Japanese Maple, I believe, but I can't say for sure...the names of trees and flowers don't register in my brain in any sort of way...perhaps because of my city upbringing. But I had always enjoyed how leafy that tree was in full bloom and how it kept the family room in nice cool shade during the summer months.

It was while I was gauging its height that I noticed the leaf.

One single leaf left...still holding on. January 9th, six inches of snow, ten degrees below freezing... but this leaf still held on. I thought about how the wind and rains batter the front of the house...but this leaf still held on. I thought about how the snow whips around that corner of the house...but this leaf still held on.

I wondered if the leaf was lonely, kind of feeling sorry for it...all alone up there, facing the harsh elements on its own, no shelter from the storm, nothing but barren branches for company and sustenance. But I held that thought for mere moments.

I soon started to admire that leaf...all alone up there. It was holding on...through the wind, rain, sun, cold and snow...it still held on. Whatever was thrown at it that chased off all the other leaves...it still held on. Mother nature beat at it mercilessly, mankind threw copious amounts of toxic fumes at it from the busy roadway...it still held on.

It was time for me to get back inside, to finish up for the day...but I took a last look at the leaf and decided to take its picture. I wished I could take a picture that could do that leaf justice...and justice to the surprising inspiration I discovered on this pretty winters day. Hang in there buddy!

I wish I were braver

That's how the post read - no context, no explanation. A friend had posted it, but it struck a chord with me.

I wish I were braver.

Because then I could tell her how I was mad about her.

I wish I were braver.

Then I could tell her how I thought she was brilliant.

I wish I were braver.

I could find the words to tell her that she's one of the most intriguing women I've known.

I wish I were braver.

Then I could tell her how beautiful I thought she was.

I wish I were braver.

This heart has been through enough, been trampled too much. It's made me gun shy - afraid of another hit.

So I sit on the periphery, alone in the shadows, wondering if I'm good enough to enter her world.

I'll watch her breeze through, catch the glow of her smile, feel the warmth of her presence, for a few fleeting moments. I'll bury my heart and all of my feelings, way, way down, covered in quips and bravado.

And when she's gone, I'll let those desires surface, and wait for the chance to see her again.

And all the time...always thinking...always thinking that one simple wish...

I wish I were braver.

doubting a belief

I generally don't believe in the kindness of man....been hurt too much by strangers, friends, lovers, etc in the past to cure me of my doubt.

But today, I was told about an act of kindness that makes me want to at least throw out this thanks into the great void,and who knows...it might hit home like the classic message in a bottle.

My son participated in a memorial walk/run this morning at his school. He wanted to walk the three mile course, but was told that the course was for runners only - if he was going to walk, he needed to follow the one mile course.

A little background - my son isn't very athletic and while he has enjoyed playing some sports, his dyspraxia, I believe, has held him back from achieving athletic progress. Running, espescially, has always looked to me to be labored at best.

A few weeks back, he joined some of his schoolmates in training for this memorial walk/run. Not being much of a runner, he found it very difficult but his buddies egged, cajoled, and good naturely bullied/pushed him into completing those training runs.

This morning, he showed up to the race and wanted to join his buddies on the three mile track - but he wanted to walk it. Since he was told only running was allowed, he agreed to run it.

He told me it was tough on him, that he was dead last bringing up the rear the whole time. But, he said what really helped him complete the run, was that one of the football players ran the race with him.

Coaching him the whole time...pushing him to small landmarks in the short distance, slowing the pace and then revving it up in intervals...so that before he knew it...he had completed three miles!!

My god, he was so thrilled he completed the three miles...so proud of himself! He so couldn't wait to tell me about the run that he texted me from his Mom's phone while I was in my car driving to pick him up for the weekend.

When he told me the story of his run, I asked him who the football player was that helped him through the race. That's the part that surprised me, because my son said that he had no idea who he was. He had never met him before...that all he knew was that he was on the football team.

So...whoever you are young man...thank you for making my son's day...thank you for helping him achieve this goal...and thank you for making his old man doubt his belief once again.

I am in your debt.

cures

Ever get into one of those prolonged moods when just nothing is right?

You know, when your bullshit meter is set so low, even your dog would get a sneer in response.

You try exercise, food, alcohol, sex, a hobby – and nothing just snaps you out of it – and the worst is – you don’t give a shit.

And then, out of the blue – somebody comes along and somehow snaps you out of it! They don’t do anything special – they just show up and you do something together.

Have a drink, do an emotional dump, confess to the blues….and then next thing you know….your laughing away – laughing at the same things – and just enjoying the time spent with them.

Yeah, who needs all those other cures – sometimes you just need to spend time with someone you enjoy being around….and it all kinda just drifts away.

And all your left with is the memory of a good time….and a smile.

Sometimes.....the best cure of all is a friend.

what happens in vegas .....

those aren't casino chips in front of me - they're bits of my heart and soul

it's everything that I have and the stack defines me

like the truest gambler, I push the whole stack out and make my bet

let it ride I tell the man, then I turn and walk away

because it's not the win or the loss that is the point

it's making that bet that's really living!

smeared black ink

he looked at his calendar and realized the date

such a bittersweet day coming up for her

the hurt faded as he remembered her smile

he felt sorry that their last meeting was bitter

regretted that his last words were hurtful but true

to be honest he never stopped caring

even as he knew she hated him so

a walk past a flower shop sent his mind reeling

a stirring inside would not leave him alone

the rose, his trademark – white and pure

to show he thought of her on that special sad day

he didn’t give his name for the card

she knew no one else would send her a rose

but it wasn’t enough and the muse came out

he created a poem right there in the shop

it filled three cards just letting her know

how he still cared and thought of her

just deliver it as is he told the man

the poem the flower and forget my name

because if it matters she will know

and if it doesn’t there would be no point

it was delivered and left on the stoop

who knows how long in the rain and snow

did the flower survive to show its bloom

did she read the poem that piece of his soul

or was the flower frozen withered and dead

like the relationship that they once had

was the message that was born from his heart

just simply reduced to smeared black ink