The One About the Chili Dog

Joel, my friend of over forty years, sent me a text earlier this morning.  It read, “Thought about you today.  I’m having a Varsity chili dog and a Frosted Orange.”

Some friends are the kind that you refer to as “3 AM” friends.  They are the ones who you can call when your heart is troubled or if you need bail money.  Sometimes those two things can happen at the same time.  Other friends are the kind that will help you change a tire, move sofas when you change houses, and console you when times are tough.

Mine?  They call me to let me know they are having a religious experience eating my favorite chili dog in the whole world.  That’s just cruel.

But, that’s not all we talk about.  Right before the Earth fell off its axis and Mercury went into retrograde, Joel and I had lunch.  We solved matters of great importance like what constitutes a great barbecue sandwich.  Both of us share a great love for baseball, especially our Atlanta Braves.  We have gone to several ballgames together over the past forty years and have seen a World Series champion and several versions that couldn’t beat a church league softball team.  This year, the Braves stink.  Sadly, there is no joy in Mudville for Casey at the bat.

Joel was a groomsman in my wedding.  Every year, on our anniversary, Karen and I break out the video from that fabulous day.  One of the best moments comes when we get to the reception.  There in the receiving line, shaking hands with the guests, are the happy couple...and Joel.  It makes me laugh every time I watch.  I’m glad he was by my side.

My daughters and I have been talking a lot about the friends you have when you are little, others you have as a teenager, college, adulthood, and so on.  Sometimes that mix changes a little, other times a lot.  If you’re lucky, and I mean really lucky, you’ll have some that don’t change at all.  When I look at Facebook, it shows that I have over six hundred friends.  That’s plain nuts.  I know better.  My circle is small, but deep by choice.  The older I get, the more meaning I crave in relationships .  Your best friends know you inside out and upside down.  You laugh at the same inside jokes and they don’t think you’re crazy, because they’re nuts too.  You know they are there for you because, for over forty years, they always have been.

Even if they rub the fact that they’re having your favorite chili dog in your face.