Friends

I seem to have filled my life with a new batch of friends.

It's not that my old friends went away ... we're just not moving in the same circles any more.

We keep up on Facebook, commenting and messaging ... there's the occasional phone call ... and in a few weeks Bill Berry (not the former drummer for REM but the other one) and I are actually getting together for a few days!

My mates from College and I sling arrows at each other almost daily with Mark being the most accurate ... Mitch being the most creative ... Dedra being the most clueless ... and me missing virtually everything they shoot.

Some of my friends from Seminary are speaking to me again ... at this point in their Ministries I suppose they're finally getting around to that "forgiveness" stuff.

Throughout the World homeless people using free computers in Library sending me nice messages ... or ask if I can still help them bypass the system.

My Professional Peers mostly went away ... except for Terry Ball who actually ran homelessness for a long time. We communicate with some regularity... and Sandy Durden who recently gave me a body slam hug in the Cathedral of St. John ... and the very famous Dr. Jim Withers who is shoving health care down the throats of those needing it most while shaming the Hospitals that demand payment at the door.

Angela Barris Bracket, a real "Hottie" when I was growing up, and I keep up with each other ... she's met Sarah and, while I enjoy our encounters, she often questions my sanity.

Shirley Sessions continues to say "Fabulous" when I see though she recently told me she was giving that up.

The "Carnival of Friends" are still constant presences but, while we love each other dearly, we're not constantly doing the things we used to do.

Jenny Orr allowed John Branigin to take control of "Bored Meetings" at "Fannies-on-the-Beach" because Roma has abdicated all control. O Johnny "(not to be confused with Johnny O) changed the time of being Bored so I don't do it much anymore though Essie and Brown seem to be doing just fine.

Besides, Sarah's girls keep me completely amused!

Oh My God, who knew 3 little girls can be like Patton's Army rolling across Germany one second and melt your heart like butter as they're doing it? ... Neither Science or Religion can explain such things.

Plus Chelsea and Sam are married ... Jeremy are and Terenca are getting married ... and Kristen is almost a Nurse ... and I work hard to keep up with their lives.

I've given up keep up with my Mom's life ... she's too busy ... though we occasionally have nice conversations when she has time ... and she's not getting on to me for whatever I wrote.

Oh yeah ... Monty Parks and the Tuesday Night Acoustic Jam consumes increasing amounts of my time! You won't believe this but I actually missed part of the Beloved Dawgs of Georgia football game the other night to show up ... but then again I've always like people who like music ... and don't fit in anywhere else.

Mostly it's my wife's fault.

She's just too damn enjoyable!

AND ... she's my best friend therefore requiring significantly more time, attention, focus, restraint and physical activity.

I'd tell you more but I got to go Bar Church now.

I love my crazy friends who have Church in a Bar!