New Freedonia

I have a good friend named Al. Actually, I’m not so sure he knows he’s a good friend or not, and that’s my fault.

We’re pretty brutal and merciless when it comes to our friends. Our whole group is, actually. Humor at the expense of others seems to be our norm. At times I think we take it too far with everyone.

We all have an area or two that should probably be “off limits”. I mean, no matter how comfortable we are with one another, there are just some things we should not tag about one another. I know I have ‘em. I know Al has ‘em.

There’s a level of love and acceptance with this practice. We’d not be so brutal with one another if we didn’t love each other, and it’s a mark of pack membership to be the target of such attention. But still…

For all the utter crap we give him, Al is one of the most stand-up guys I know. He’s loyal, he’s smart, he’s always willing to go the distance for a friend, he never asks for anything in return.

We’d all be so lucky to know someone like Al, let alone be able to call him a friend.

I don’t try to excuse my behavior. I’m old enough to know what I’m doing (for the most part) in my inter-personal relationships. I think my friends make more than a few allowances for me and my…quirks.

But a guy like Al, he deserves better.

Thanks, man.