Year of the Friend: The Sequel

Once upon a time, I read a definition of friendship that has stayed with me, in large part, over time. And though the exact quote had gotten a little hazy, how fortuitous that when I did a search on Google this evening, it was the very first definition to emerge:

Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring all right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful friendly hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and, with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away.

I don't know if I always live up to that, but I try... and I don't know if that covers the whole gamut of friendship, but it sure does take up a lot of space in it, at least for me. And such was the case for my visit last weekend with my friend Sara, and her husband Vince. Sara and I became friends in Sacramento way back when I was in the Air Force, and we hadn't seen each other since sometime in 1992, I think, when we each left Sacramento for points east -- my points being significantly more east than hers. However, we kept in touch over the years -- some years admittedly better than others. Vince and I had never met, but you wouldn't have known it from the greeting he gave me. Such a nice man and partner for my friend (I wish I could taken credit for introducing them, darn it.)

At any rate, it was an awesome weekend that moved by all too quickly. Seems like one more day would have been just perfect, but you know what they say... that fish and most visitors start to stink after 3 days, so I didn't want to qualify for that. But we laughed and ate and talked and shared old pics, and caught up on 15+ years of separation, and I gained a new friend (or 3, if you count the dogs) in the process. Definitely... definitely... glad we made it happen.

Friendship -- it does a body good.

Kelvin

This could be fun

Wow, I just found out that I could post to my blog via email. What a wonderful discovery that is, to just jot down my thoughts. . . spell check . . . then email them? automatically formatted, no hassle posting? Add pictures later, if I like? Wow... a recipe for more frequent updates. Get ready :-)

Have an awesome day.

Kelvin

Ball Park Franks!

Tell me, please. Who the DICKENS gets urges for BALL PARK FRANKS !? ... besides me? I'm glad I'm not a woman, because I'd think I was pregnant or something. Sheesh!

But luckily, the craving went away, and it only took 4 of the little suckers to quench the urge. The good news is... there was only 3 carbohydrates each so it was good stuff. No catsup or mustard or relish or anything, just heat them up in the microwave and put them on a plate and eat them (fork comes in handy) Aaaahhhhh.

Now the question is... when will I eat the other 3 packages (I bought them at BJs so I couldn't get just one...) and the rest of the first one ? Hmmmm. Party. THAT's it. Maybe I'll throw a party! We'll call it a picnic and give us a reason to eat more BALL PARK FRANKS! -- or not.

Have an awesome day.

Whimsically yours,
Kelvin

Diary of an Oyster

I like to think that I am very smart, but some days -- I admit -- are better than others. I love to inspire, but also love to be inspired, and sometimes a very, simple story can do the trick. Worthy of Dr. Suess, I'd like to share such a (short but quasi factual) story with you now. Enjoy your day!

---

There once was an oyster, whose story I tell;
Who found that some sand had got into his shell.
It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain;
For oysters have feelings, although they are plain.

Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate,
That had brought him to such a deplorable state?
"No," he said to himself, "Since I cannot remove it,
I'll lie in my shell, and think how to improve it."

The years rolled around,as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate Destiny...stew.
Now the small grain of sand that had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.

This tale has a moral, for isn't it grand,
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?
Think... What could WE do, If we'd only begin,
With some of the things that get under OUR skin.

--Author Unknown