Taking time to smell the Coffee

I got a call from an old friend last night. He works for the railroad and was driving to some God forsaken place in Idaho to repair the lines. He's a welder and mends the train tracks, even if it's out in the cold, rain, heat, or even worse, East L.A. I've known him for a while and we've drank a lot of beers and caught a few fish. He brought me up to date on his life, his wife, and beautiful lil baby. I met him through a mutual friend Cameron, who we still make fun of and ask ourselves puzzling questions like "how is it that he doesn't work but still has all the newest gadgets and toys." My friend also told me about going to the VA hospital to talk about his PTSD. I know that there was a guy in Utah that freaked out and killed his wife. My friend is a good guy, but it wrenched my guts that a man such as my friend, who served his country, now faces the daily demons of loud noises and 2 a.m. partol checks of his house to protect his family. I am glad that the VA recognizes these things and is giving my friend the help that he deserves for putting his life in danger under the banner of the red, white and blue. He called at a perfect time. I was actually in the middle of some Yoga. Which, for some reason, made me think of the opening scene in Apocolipse Now. We chatted for a bit. It was good to hear from him.

I also got a hold of another friend. Life has delt us the busy card. Both of us are in different points in school but none the less, the pressures and stresses are there. I have a wee bit of spare time today after class and we are going to catch a cup of coffee and hopefully a game of death dyfing chess. For the record I beat him once. Sweet redemption after getting whooped by my 12 year old brother.

I am lucky to have such good friends.

I'm also waiting for Barack Obama to start a speach with "Can you smell what Barack is cooking!"