Finally...

...got my best friend on the phone this noon-- we've been missing connections for weeks, it seems. Did my best to shame him into making dinner happen tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get to see my god-children.

The nice thing about having a best friend of almost a quarter-century is that you don't sweat the small stuff. You can pick right back up. Scott knows that I don't need to know every little detail, and I know that he's cool without constant updates.

But why do we not make those little side-trips happen more often? Why don't we see our preferred companions more? Why don't I call in more "Man-Dates" (tm)? Because I'm stupid, that's why.

Pick up the phone.

Call your friend. If they won't pick up, leave voice mail. Or write a $.39 letter.

Make a date. If they're busy, ask them if they have to go to the damned grocery store, occasionally. Go with them.

Self-sufficiency is wonderful. I admire people that can and do manage it. But don't forget the pleasure of your friends' companionship. And if you're not forgetting it, don't forget how to partake of it. It's not that damned hard. It doesn't have to be a special event.

I'll bet Ted Kacynzki, sitting in his cell these days, sometimes thinks, "I shoulda had some people over to the cabin, occasionally..."