Let Me Shake My Hand

If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.

Maxwell Maltz
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Many years ago I knew a woman, I won't tell you her name, who had definitely made up her mind, with no encouragement from me whatsoever, that I was going to be her next husband. I found her neither interesting nor attractive. Besides a woman who lines up husbands like pictures in a hallway is suspicious to most men anyway.

She hung around the theatre where I worked making herself obtrusive and obvious. Romance was certainly on her mind. It wasn't on mine. When her advances were met with no reaction from me I know she got frustrated. One day she said "Don't you ever get lonely?" To which I replied "No" which wasn't true of course. Who doesn't get lonely? One can be lonely at a dinner table full of family and friends. I went on to say "I keep excellent company with myself. I agree with almost everything I say. I don't bitch at myself for leaving dirty dishes in the sink or clothes on the floor. And when I come home everybody there is glad to see me."

There are advantages to living alone, as I do. For one thing you can be your own best friend. I get very angry with myself when I do a stupid thing, much angrier than I would get with someone else. But I can quickly forgive myself and hold no grudge.

I can plan all sorts of exciting adventures and set wonderful goals for myself, but my friend listens quietly and then says "Sure, sure, Buddy. You're just dreaming. Forget about it."

If I do something good I'm the first one to step up to congratulate myself for it.

If I'm having bad memories my friend convinces me to stop thinking about them. If I'm having good ones he shares the experiences with me. If I forget to take the shopping list, like today, he's right there to remind me what was on it. I my heart is broken he heaves a big sigh and weeps for me.

All in all he's a good guy. I'm glad I know him.

DB - The Vagabond
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SPRING QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)

In your opinion what is the most amazing thing that could happen during this decade? Make it as outrageous as you want but keep it within the realm of what you consider a possibility.

Only 8 responses so far.

Answers will be published the first day of Summer.

Thank you.

dbdacoba@aol.com

DB - The Vagabond
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