This post has been removed. My former friend “AZ” about whom this post was about dropped me for unknown reasons in 2012 and about which I still remain quite hurt and puzzled.
Category Archives: Best friends
Woofs to Clay!
Today I’m doing a special shout-out to a very dear friend who lives in Calgary, Alberta. “Calgarymn” Clay is such a wonderful, thoughtful, kind and caring man. He’s also a hunky cowboy Leatherman, too.
I’ll never forget that when I was becoming active on “Boots on Line” (and on-line community of men who like boots and share information about them), I observed that Clay was posting pictures and engaging in dialogue with a lot of guys. I was awe-struck at first, and perhaps a bit infatuated (I admit it), and came to think, “wow, this guy is really cool! He always has something nice to say, and has a great sense of humour.” His quick wit and style endeared me to him.
Then he sent me a message in reply to something I posted. I was flabbergasted. “Who, me? Why would this guy who is such a stud want to have anything to do with this inconsequential guy from Maryland?”
We began to exchange email, and soon thereafter we developed 
a warm and fast friendship. I got him booted in a pair of Dan Post roughout cowboy boots that he wanted. He looks great wearing them. Besides his striking classic cowboy style, which is cool, he’s also quite good looking in leather, too. A man who shares my passions.
He started creating videos about the same time that I did, but he was always better at it. There’s something about how he displays his passion that sizzles. He and I have shared a lot of vids with each other, and I even kidded him in one of mine for “not” giving me an idea for it. We laugh about that to this day.
Guys who have a deep and sincere heart, who live each day with the best of intentions to enjoy life and help others, and who have abiding personal integrity, tend to gravitate toward one another. As I blogged about before, our mutual friend “AZ” has those qualities. Clay certainly has those qualities as well. He has a richness of character that is far above the norm, and to which I aspire in how I live my life and care for my family and friends.
Today I give a special “shout-out” to my “booted bandito” next brother, Clay. Man, I am so richly blessed. With “AZ” and Clay as my rocks and soul brothers, what more could I ask?
Life is short: wear your boots and leather (though my interests purely are as an avocation ~~~. I think with that one, AZ and Clay have a bridge they can sell you!)
Birthday Wishes
I am the most blessed man in the world. While today is my birthday, it’s not a milestone, yet it’s nice to know that people remember.
Yesterday, I got a huge “shout-out” on an on-line board on which I participate from a number of really great people. It was initiated by a great friend who I met through that board, and who has been very thoughtful and with whom I have enjoyed developing a warm friendship.
But even before that, the morning began with a phone call to my cell, which I missed because I rarely keep that infernal contraption with me. My dear friend “AZ” sang a sweet birthday song to me, which I have saved on my voice mail and have listened to several times. Despite what he says, he has a beautiful voice.
I also got to speak on the phone with my wonderful friend Clay in Calgary, which was terrific. He is such a great guy. We could talk for hours, though he was at work so I couldn’t be on the line too long.
Then the family began checking in. I received several calls and many birthday cards from my siblings, nieces, and nephews. Each one had a special sentiment and brought warm thoughts to my mind.
Last night, we had a “snuggle night” where we turned off the TV and computer, and my partner and I turned up the 7.1 surround to listen to some beautiful piano music that I got on a CD from my brother as a birthday gift. The CD was recorded in Rome, but the music was a compilation of various works from classical to jazz. It was great! My partner and I just lay in each other’s arms, and I enjoyed a long back scratch. (That’s all I ask for my birthday.)
At dawn, my partner and I awoke, and lay peacefully looking out our windows the tall trees in the back yard, marveling at God’s handiwork. A bright red cardinal dropped by and said “tweet tweet”, which we take as “happy birthday.” Then the squirrels did their gymnastics routine. Certainly they would win the gold if they were allowed to compete in the Olympics. Then I enjoyed another long back scratch…. (smile).
As I was preparing breakfast, the doorbell rang… one of the sweet ladies who I look after who lives in the retirement community around the corner from us came over with a cake, and a card signed by some 40 of “my LW crew” — friends, all, whose lives are intertwined with mine. I had already received more that 50 individual cards in the mail from this gang — these are the folks to whom I send cards throughout the year. I treasure their warmth and friendship.
It’s just gonna be a great day. I can feel it.
Life is short! Wear your boots! Tell those you love that you love ’em, very much. I sure do.
Small town feeling in rambling ‘burbs
I live in a rather densely populated suburban area. I live in a county and there really aren’t that many incorporated cities, towns, or ‘burgs where I live. Thus, I’m just part of the rambling sprawl that typically happens outside the core of any major city anywhere in the world.
I’ve blogged before about having friends who I have met on-line, but I haven’t mentioned the friends I grew up with. You see, even though I live in a sprawling suburban area where anonymity is more the rule than the exception, I still keep in touch with many dozen friends I have known since I was a kid. Many of them settled right here, and now have families of their own. I’ve also maintained close friendships with some people with whom I went to college and served together on campus activities. In adulthood, I expanded my network of friends through all of the community activism that I do, boards on which I serve, people I help out from time to time in a neighboring retirement community, and other activities.
Being one person in a county with almost 1,000,000 residents can seem daunting, distant, and make one feel isolated. However in my case, that really isn’t the story. I know hundreds of people. I see them on the street, in local stores, and while I’m riding my Harley. A friendly wave, a phone call, an email, … they’re there, I’m there, and we’re in this together. I feel that my large sprawling community is much like a small town in many ways with the degree in which we’re connected.
I am truly blessed by having many friends — some for as long as 47 years, and many for as long as 40 years, avg (and I’m “only” 50). Much like friendships that develop in small towns. People you know and remain close to for a long, long time. What a treasure.
Life is short: wear your boots. Love your friends.
Joy II
I write today again about joy, and the joy that sincere friendship brings to me. How I am enlightened, learn, and laugh with a great friend who I met through “Boots On Line” (a website where guys who are into boots like me exchange messages and share non-risque photos.)
This friend is a very warm-hearted soul, and smart as the dickens. He is a CPA by profession, and a well-rounded, well-read man by practice. I have learned a lot from him and look forward to many more regular exchanges (mostly by email) in the years to come.
What I treasure about this friend is that he is nonjudgmental, very willing to share his knowledge and expertise about things that I love to learn about, and that he’s dependable, reliable, and exceptionally trustworthy. I know, it sounds like I’m describing the proverbial Boy Scout. My friend wouldn’t be accepted by the Scouts because he’s gay; but that’s another story.
I value most that my friend has had a partner for some 20 years, and he, like me, is faithful and monogamous with the man in his life. It is quite possible to have friends and admire them deeply, yet not compromise your commitment to your partner. My friend does that, and respects that I do that too.
What joy, what blessings, what great treasure I have. Now, I’m humming in my head, the tune by Andrew Gold, Thank you for Being a Friend. (This friend in particular is musically-oriented, so it’s quite appropriate now that I close with this tune in my mind).
Life is short, wear your boots, but most of all, love your friends!
Joy
I realize that I am truly blessed. I have a wonderful, steady, reliable, and best friend in my partner. I have a great family, the huge raucous bazillion of ’em. What blesses me more is having a few but truly great friends.
Pictured with me here is my buddy, close friend, and gorgeous man, AZLeatherExplorer. He has some pics posted on my website, at his request and my delight.
This man is such a wonderful human being. He has a terrific sense of humor, warm empathy, and is so honest that the vast majority of others can learn from his integrity. What I love most about this man is his heart. He cares so deeply about his family, and goes to great lengths and expense to show it. He demonstrates his love in many ways to many others. I am truly blessed to have him as one of my closest, dearest, friends. What a treasure it is to know someone so special. God has brought us someone who lives in His light, and who shares the joys and pleasures of His love with us through all that my buddy does for me, for his family, and for everyone he encounters.