Boys of Summer

~Close friends since 1968 and 1973 (The word friend is used here in it's literal sense.)

47 years is a longtime to have known someone, especially when you're both only 56. The same could be said for having known someone for 42 years.

That's how long I've known these two Goomers (middle and right). And a close friendship that goes back to your cartoon days is difficult to beat.

You can make a new friend everyday, but you can never go back and make an old one. Old friendships by nature of the title take a long time to develop. Which brings me to my point: The word "friend" in my not so humble opinion, is quite often overused. Often times the word friend is unintentionally spoken as a misnomer. I've heard people refer to someone as friend when all indications are they are in truth merely acquainted. There's nothing wrong with that.

Although I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on friendship, to me it seems somewhat of a stretch to think two individuals can become "dear friends" after having only spent a handful of hours in each others company. I suppose you could develop a dear friendship over the course of maybe a few months, providing that time was spent stranded together on a desert island while depending on one another for your very survival. Even under those circumstances, it would seem likely only if you spent each evening around a campfire, divulging the details of your respective lives, including what you believe, what you stand for, the things you'd be willing to die over, your fears, likes, weaknesses, passions and dreams; along with your general view of the world. But that's just how I see it.

I've shared some thoughts on this subject before, but felt it was worthy of additional consideration. No hidden message and no ulterior motive. I was just recently thinking about it when a prominent TV correspondent referred to a retiring Army General as "My dear friend". I immediately wondered how much time these two gentlemen had spent together outside to world of news stories. I'm guessing not a lot.

As you go through life, consider the reality of the different relational categories the people in your life actually fit into. Is someone a casual acquaintance, a good acquaintance, a casual friend, a good friend, or a dear & close friend. To me, "dear & close friend" is the pinnacle of friendship. I'm fortunate to have a few and over the course of watching those friendships grow, have found that the best way to develop a dear close friend, is to first focus your energies on trying to be one.  

The title you choose to give the various individuals you've met up to this point in your life is up to each of us and you might want to consider keeping it to yourself. Unless that title is in fact "friend". It probably would not go over real well if you introduced two individuals by saying, "Bart, I'd like you to meet my dear close friend, Bob! Bob this is my casual acquaintance, Bart."

I'll keep you posted....

Critical Thoughts

As I contemplated a number of knife thoughts this morning over a cup of community coffee acquired at the NorthWalton Blvd Neighborhood Market, I recalled a particular knife I had lost for a second time about a year ago. That led me to considering the purchase of a replacement knife once I realized the re-found knife was likely lost for good. Of course, I also lost that knife, but fortunately, found it again. It's at my in-laws house where I lost it. Thankfully, the replacement knife and I will soon be re-united.

Before discovering that I'd left the replacement knife in eastern Missouri, I considered the various routes I might take in an effort to put a new daily cutting instrument in my pocket. It was then that I remembered the knife in this picture.

This Made in the USA Hogue was given to me by my good friend Major J. Richard Blickstead, who resides in the beautiful and eclectic city of Toronto, Ontario. Corresponding with his penchant for only the finest single barrel malt scotch, Cuban cigars, and cuff links, this knife is fittingly sold at an equally fine price. It's fun to have friends with discerning taste when it comes to gift giving; or should I say, gift receiving:)

Aware that if I carried the gift knife around in my pocket, it might eventually end up in the middle of a brush pile, inside an old raggedy stump, or somewhere at the bottom a of ravine, I decided to keep it  in a protected environment but where I could still use it from time to time. With that, I settled on stowing it in my leather tool pouch hanging safely in the barn. That way, there's almost no chance of loosing it, unless I also loose my tool belt.

As Nickademus might say, this seemed, overall, a satisfactory plan in my view. Which brings me to my point: Although I've never "officially" been in charge of running a think tank, this is probably how the think tank folks do it. They intentionally start thinking about something and continue thinking about it until they come up with a workable solution. Wow: that's nearly unbelievable! I may have to ask Kleitus to do some critical thinking on the subject of think tanks, which in my view should be more appropriately named "thought tanks".

Should any other earth-shattering findings arise in the area of thought, I'll keep you posted....

New Restaurant Report

A new restaurant pops up somewhere just about every hour of every day. The part of the world I call home has produced at least it's fair share over the past several years and this little place is one of them.

As my old friend Nickademus often says, you might want to run a test pattern on this place at your earliest convenience. The 3rd Street Eatery & Bakery is located in Bentonville, Arkansas just off "The Square", behind the splash park and catty-corner to the 21c Museum Hotel.

The proprietors took a somewhat raggedy out of date building and converted it into what you see here. As Nickademus would say, they have a menu of "sundry" food offerings and assorted beverages from which to choose.

Based on my personal experience, this little place is sure to please to average pallet. The setting is comfortable, the fair is fresh, and service is efficient. The average menu item is of course priced a little higher than a fish sandwich and fries at the McDonald's just down the street. As is usually the case, however, you get what you pay for. As a bonus, you can walk right out their front door and in about 6 seconds be on your way down the trail and through the woods to Alice's place aka: The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. And that's something to think about!

All that said, give 'er a shot and tell them some guy you've never met sent you. Also, tell them I'll keep the world posted on how they're doing.