Our friend, Don, celebrated his birthday with friends and, unexpectedly, a parade of soldiers.
At first, I didn’t understand why Don bought a bunch of tiny tanks and soldiers until he informed us, “If Trump can have a parade, so can I. And mine will cost millions less.”
In addition to being a mensch, Don is hilarious. I love his stories. For example, how many former dentists do you know that have partied with members of The Grateful Dead? And how many guys not only support local charities but also regularly train and support the Olympic luge team?
We are lucky to have Don as a friend. He’s also our neighbor and landlord. The little red cottage where we live is situated on his land and he allows us to store our belongings in a barn and our RV next door. I tell you – he’s a mensch.
Truth is, I’m a Mensch Collector. As I stroll through the photos on my phone, I smile a lot because I haven’t just got good friends. I’ve got GREAT friends. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of them.
I am particular about who I spend time with and who I call real friends. As I’ve said before, they all share three traits: smart, heart-centered and silly. It’s non-negotiable, really, because life is just better that way.
It might surprise you that “musical” or “talented” are not on my list. Sure, I love hanging out and playing with friends, but play doesn’t have to mean artistic. And I may admire someone, but that’s not enough to be in my Mensch Collection.
When I stopped drinking and drugging, I got really clear about friendships. Prior to that (especially in my teens and twenties) I was attracted to party people, folks who manufactured silliness or deep thinking through being stoned or drunk. These were “fun friends” and most of them are gone from my life.
Nowadays, my family of friends are – honestly – more like the person I am and want to be. They reflect my highest ideals.
Fortunately, I do have a bunch of friends that I’ve known since nursery school and kindergarten. We loved hanging out then and still do, today. Why? Because we laugh a lot and turn to each other when life gets rough. These are my O.M.s (original mensches), the ones who lead my parade.
May you enjoy your true friends and collect some more along the way!
Here’s a few…
If you didn’t see you – it’s because I don’t have a photo of you on my phone. Let’s fix that, soon!
