Posted by
str8_talk on Saturday, May 17, 2008 4:30:31 PM
I have met some great people at Townhall and I want to recognize them. I am an optimistic person by nature. There are many who have been inspirations to me. They have not passed judgment on me. Some of them I have come to know through personal email, but I would never disclose who they are. I was raised to honor friends and to hold their private information confidential. This brings to mind a situation recently where a friend that I've known since high school asked if I had a recent picture of another friend that we both knew from high school. I said that I did, but I would have to get permission from them before I passed it along. If you want trust from your friends you must show yourself trustworthy. Maybe this is why most of the people I graduated with 30 years ago confide in me things they wouldn't tell others. They know that I don't repeat what they say. I have learned sometimes the hard way, even recently, that there are people you can trust and those that you cannot. There are people who will malign you and stab you in the back. Being single several years taught me that men can be just as conniving as women, although I tend to have more male friends than female. I think the reason for this is that I grew up in a male dominant family on both sides.
That is why I grew up driving tractors, fishing, shooting guns, loving sports, cars, and airplanes. I had a wonderful farm-life upbringing and I relished each moment that I spent on the farm and the knowledge I gained each day. Would I trade the entire ilk that has happened to me since? Well, there are things that I wouldn't want to live through again, but we can learn something from what we've been through. If we don't learn from our mistakes and our trials, then what have we gained? We would turn into a miserable, bitter person, which brings me to my perspective on life always look forward not back. If someone has treated me with disdain or for some unknown reason quit being my friend, I feel it is their loss, not mine. I don't wish them ill or harbor grudges, life is too short.
Here on TH the people that I've met who have been kind to me and steadfast are:
Marine's Dad, USMC Lt., Georgetwin, Gray Ghost, Crawfish, Sgt Relic, wil, Primus54, Nee, emjayne, Jeff G, Steve & Lisa B, BrianR, 1mas and Ralph E
They are not listed in any particular order. I tried to remember the ones I've known the longest and just mention all that I could think of. I want to thank you for your kindness. I'll be out of town later this week and I didn't want you to think that anyone ran me off if you don't see me in the next couple of weeks. I may check in from time to time, but this is my time to spend with my son and a time that I know I must focus on him. He's at the age that it may be the last vacation he's willing to spend with Mom. I hope to have some great new photos when I get back!
If there is anyone that I failed to mention, count it to my birthday coming up.... ;) and I'm not telling when or how many!
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)