Friendly Tribute

For quite a while now I have been pondering a blog about my closest friends.  I often write about family, but only rarely about my friends.  I think I can spare a few bits for them.  Each of them has a quality that I admire.  Without realizing it each of them inspires me to attempt to be more like them.

Generosity

Generosity is my friend, Ben.  When I was 24 I remember Ben offering to go to the store to get his roommate brother a case of Cokes.  While a semi-small thing, that has always struck me that at any moment you could do something small but still completely selfless.  I have not always been a generous person.  But now, I always try to be like Ben--to offer to help many times more often than I don't.

Bizarre Intelligence & Intuition

My friend Asa defies description in his quality to see through befuddled scenarios and know exactly what to do.  Asa is not an educated genius, but he has mastered something we can only call "Asa Logic".  Asa Logic is nearly always unexpected--it can't always be unexpected because then it would be slightly predictable.  This works in Asa Logic.  Asa has blended intelligence, wisdom and intuition in to something unique.  When ever I am confronted with unknowable situations, I think about what would Asa do and I try Asa Logic.

Creativity

My friend Aaron is perhaps the most creative person I have ever known.  The ideas he has and the precious few things he has written are some of the most amazing things I have ever read.  But far from being wild, all his dreams have a clarity to them--a truth behind the fiction.  He is a keen observer of people and motivations.  When ever I find myself rejecting a fanciful idea, I stop and remember my friend Aaron who taught me to write down my dreams and not forget them.

Honor

My friend James taught me Honor.  James is a self-styled biker.  He works maintenance at a manufacturing plant.  He routinely is armed... with extra ammunition.  James is scornful of adversaries, but he would jump in front of bullets for his friends.  In more ways than I could describe, there can be no better friend than James.  When someone really needs my help, I hope I can be like James.

Love of Life

My friend Jon loves life.  Many people would judge him harshly for the way he lives.  But I say Jon lives one of the best lives I know.  Jon knows the comfort of home-made soup.  He knows the ease of slow days and a big couch.  Jon lives simply, but he lives well.  When I get to choose between ambition and comfort, I also consider carefullly and think of my friend Jon.

Wisdom

Wisdom is my friend Fritz.  While he may not know how much I have appreciated him, he has taught me lessons I still hold as my most valuable today.  I asked him for some advice once when I was going through my divorce.  He told me straight.  He had been through a hard divorce too.  What he had to say was hard, but it was true and it helped me through.  I never thanked him for it.  Thank you, Fritz.  If I have found any wisdom in the hardships of my life, Fritz taught me how to learn them.

Tenacity

My friend Mike taught me tenacity.  Mike can ignore all distractions, all other factors, and he will march to his goal without yielding or slowing.  He my die at the end, but so far that has not been an issue!  Mike has taught me that you can make sacrifices to make a goal.  The key is that the goal is attainable.  The rest is just managing your resources.  When sheer determination is required, I remember my friend Mike.

I have many other friends.  But these are my brothers. I remember them and try to live as they taught me even though I am far away.  I'll toast you all tonight.