2007-08-31 - 3:34 p.m.

Yes, it’s one of those entries again. You know the kind where I talk about how much I love my family of friends. If you’re tired of reading about how much you mean to me, you can skip this one and come back when I’m on yet another rant or whining about something incredibly stupid.

I’m sure you won’t have to wait long.

The majority of my friends I have known a very long time. Try as you might, you cannot get rid of me. Some of you have been with me since grade school and some from jr. high. So many of you I met through my involvement in local music. Which is ironic because I got involved in local music because of people I’ve known since jr. high. But I digress. Yes, I just channeled Mr. Dalton. (Those of you who have known me since jr. high actually got that.) I’ve been gifted with friend family members from every single place I have ever been employed and you have allowed me to carry you throughout my life long after we have gone on to other endeavors. I’ve moved. You’ve moved. Real friendship doesn’t care about time away or distance apart. The internet has even brought a few of you to me too. Those I haven’t had the pleasure of hugging in person yet, it will happen.

Friends come from everywhere. You never know when or how you’re going to meet someone who will change your life and make it better just by being in it. I don’t think you can ever predict how important someone will eventually become to you. But if you pay close attention, I am almost positive you will get an undeniably clear picture.

Recently something amazing and wonderful happened to me. I became friends with two very strong and beautiful women that I feel I’m going to carry in my heart forever. Instant connections like these don’t occur all that often in my life so when they do, I recognize them, hold onto them and cherish them. Someone once told me that people like me don’t just happen. I wasn’t quite sure I understood him back then, but looking at these two lovely souls, I now completely understand what he was talking about.

It’s very rare that I drift away from or cut friends out of my life. It does happen though and it usually ends up being for my own good in the end. You make me believe in the possibility that maybe all things do happen for a reason.

I guess I’m feeling the love even more than usual right now because it is getting close to the anniversary of my Mom’s death. It will be six years that she has been gone and I still get terribly lonely, a bit moody and a little mushy when this time of year comes calling. September 11th, 2001 happened and ten days later I lost my Mom. Those dates are forever linked in my mind. The whole world changed and then my miniscule part of that world changed. At times I felt selfish for grieving the loss of my Mom in the middle of all that was happening.

I will never forget the kindness and patience of my friends. The world had bigger things to worry about, but they still found time to be there for me even when I tried my very best to push them away and handle every last thing on my own. I appreciate the fact that you understood why I had to do things the way I did. My entire life my Mom took care of me all by herself, there were just some things I had to do to take care of her all by myself.

I love all of you for never letting me go.

Where I've Been. - What's Next.