Friends

I’ve mentioned before that I’m sort of a loner, the solitary type; I keep to myself, and strive for the knowledge that can only be found within oneself most of all, and then look for it in kind in the world in which I dwell.  However, friendship isn’t really based on what we have in kind, of course that might be part of it, but similarities and interests that are of a same nature only give a common frame of reference, real friendship is something much more intimate.

As a young boy, I changed schools 4 times in six grades, and I was usually popular, but I only made one or two what I would call friends.  I would wait and attach to one or two with the only exception being high school, it was the only school I was at for more than 2 years in a row, and the friends I made there, are still my friends 20 years later.  We don’t have a lot in common.  My friends like man things, sports, cars, sex, and some like history, military, and guns, I like feminine things intimacy, romance, passion, and writing!  I like to be open in my journals and my blog.  I taught myself to like football, because I saw I didn’t have a whole lot in common with men and I wanted to fit in, but even so, I like the game, but I just don’t care about the statistics, fitting in just isn’t that important to me.  My best friends, the ones I’ve known all of my adult life, I can’t even tell you what they drive….a car or truck is the best I can do, if I try real hard I might know the color, but I doubt it.

I have this friend, my best friend.  We have seen and been through some of the toughest roads life can bring.  We knew each other young, before struggles, he’s had marriages, I’ve had one; we saw each other through drug addiction, and came out the other side of it.  And there is nothing, come hell or high water that I wouldn’t do for him, and I know he feels the same.  He is gifted in physical work, give him wood, drywall, and plastic, and he will build you a house, where I would have just pile of shit.  Talk to him about star wars, football, music, or work and he will always have the answer, and I will be saying, “duhhhhhh”, well, maybe not music.  My gifts are in religious studies and writing….I quote Longfellow, Scripture, and Lao Tzu.  In many ways we are as different as night is to day, but neither us would ever would ever choose a life without the other as a part of it; it just wouldn’t be good enough.  I can say it to the world, and he can say it to me….which is just fine.

My best friend, this is for you….I never want you to  doubt how much you mean to me, Chris.  Thanks for always being there!

Zion