Avenue R

Been driving Avenue R a lot lately. Don’t know what it is lately, but I’ve been reminiscing. Thinking about the many times I’ve driven down this road. It is much like any road in Palmdale, but it is so much more. It’s the way home for me. It is road filled with memories, good and not so good.

New Shopping Center

Early morning passing 47^th Street I see the new shopping center. Super Target, Panera, It’s a Grind. Across the way is Tom's and my car insurance place. Its where the new 24 Hours is supposed to open. The new site for Vallarta, too.

Heritage Housing Tract

Less than mile down is where Brian’s parents used to live. I remember catching a movie with his sister.  Yeah, I was stupid. Broke up with some girl and well she was familiar and I dunno. Not something that was very smart. 

Mobile Homes

Down the road is where Amanda used to live. She lived at the mobile home park. Used to sneak over to her house early in the morning. Her brother caught us once. She was my first girlfriend. She was something. Smart. Athletic. A go-getter. She was a fighter. Still is, I think.

Her good friend from school is the owner of the dance studio where Lynn, my niece, goes. Amanda moved a couple of times, but still close to Avenue R. Her neighbor was Eric, a good quarterback. First time with watercress salad and cheese sandwiches. Kim was also a good friend of Amanda who also lived in the parks.  I was lucky to be her boyfriend.

Ricky liked her so. My rival who grew to be a friend. He had a thing for my first. I don’t blame him. We fought a little. Used to ride together a lot, too. He had a Trek. His prized possession. A little gawky, but he had a warrior’s heart. Had many pool fights and sleepovers when we were school. We sparred a few times.  Laid him out once.  Thanks Uncle Kidog. Training did pay off.

Seven Eleven and the Blue Building

She lived close to 30^th Street and Avenue R. Right across the street from McAdams Park. This where I spent many a summer day and nights. This where Amanda and I would hang. It was also the place where I played tennis. Courts are run down now. Used to be the place to go. Jumping a top the wall, picking up stray tennis balls.

Justine lived across the street in the apartments. Played a few times, but she liked another. The Booth man. McAdam is where swam, where I did a double back. Where I did a 1 ¾ face plant. Ouch. First time hung out with Jennifer. Had a thing for her. It is where I began to swim again.

I remember this guy George in class was so big that he just floated. Reminded me of the guy from the old movie Dune with Sting. He just floated around. Didn’t sink. He was Thanksgiving float. From under water, It was a sight to see. Hope he lost the weight. Hope he's okay. Kids are mean at times.

McAdam Park was right across the street where my Freshman Biology teach lived. He was/ is a great guy. Why?  Because he fathered the my soul mate. Spent many nights there. Sleeping on his couch. Hanging with Lou. We would talked about Pierce Anthony and the Incarnation of Immortality. Learned how to say grace there, too. “God is Great. God is Good. Let us thank him for our food.” Loved that. It was where I gave the white rose goodbye.

PHS

Down the Street is Palmdale High. Where my brother teaches and coaches. He’s a good man. It’s the road where I ran for wrestling. Its on the corner of 25^th and R.  Used to walk this way with the Emericks from Joshua Hills a long time ago. There was a grocery store long ago. Kids would go there before school started. This was when Sage was junior high. Before the planetarium and before they found they put up the black fences.  Its lot now with a for sale sign. This is where they sell Christmas trees during the holiday. Its kind of sad.

Stretch, 25th and 10th Street East

Further down is the apartment where Scott used to Live. We called him Iceman. Stayed with him one weekend in Boston. He and his wife at the time lived there for the military. Learned they divorced and has since gone separate ways.  I think this were Steve lived too. Ernesto lived in the same area, too. St Mary is up the street  from Avenue R.

Its where I go to church. Its where Christy (not her real name) used to go to school. She was cute. Lived in the Hills, too. Attractive. I was a dork. Brown hair, great smile. She was one, I wish I would have had more courage. One of life's regrets.

Sergio and Krishna live between 11^th and 10^th. A rough area. Rough kids. We all had a crush on Grace. What times? It was time of the Orange Pinto and having my bike stolen. Playing ball all night. One night, I remember Dad asking me if I wanted to offer to give a gun to him. It was a shock. It was the way things were done in the PI. Salvage them. Why? Bad things happens in families that should not happen in families. I wonder how people could do such bad things to people.

Courson Park is where the mayor at the time asked what things I would change in Palmdale if given the chance. "New basketball courts," that is what I said.  Next summer there they were. Its where Sergio, Scott and I played. Its where Scott got jumped. Its where the punk ass ghetto kid, jacked up my left knee. Why? Because I was whooping his ass, embarrassing him in basketball in front of his friends. Took a cheap shot.  Well, that's enough of that. Sergio and Krishna are gone. Not sure where they are now.

Passed the railroad tracks on Sierra Highway. Walked these tracks from Joshua Hills to the Comic Book Shop, where I asked Dana to the movies. Neither of us showed up. 

6th Street

On the following street is where Lynn goes to dance. Where Ricky used to work at Jack In the Box. Where I got my first real job at the KFC. Washing dishes with Al. Using a hose to wash dishes. Soap if we were feeling especially industrious. Where I did a marketing internship at the radio station. Many memories of harder times were there. Where I used to ride my bike with Ricky in the middle of the night. Not sure if he is alive or dead.

We do this at times. Lose touch people we were once so close. We travel by places that had so much history. We watch places that used to have so much health and wealth, just decay and pass away. We see how places change meaning. Some grow. Some fade. There is energy in places we live. There is energy we imbue in the places we live, we inhabit, where memories are made. Where people live in pleasant and hard times. We live in times and spaces that has so much meaning. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad, sometimes very bad. Still, we persevere. 

The roads we travel is not so smooth. It is also not as bad as once thought.

Certain dynamics brings people together. Can't explain why it happens. There is purpose. Our view is limited what we see. Time brings people and places together. We at times to stay there forever. At times we wish leaves these places forthwith. We cannot stay here forever. People change. Places change. Events happen and don’t happen. We do not live standing still. Its not supposed to be that way. Relationship grow strong together. They fade, too. Not everything seems special. But it is. We get so lost thinking something is better. Tomorrow always is.Yesterday is always better, too.  When we realize this looking over all of it we see it is all good.  

10th West, Left or Right?

Would go on Avenue R, but its going to "T" soon. No more straight ahead. Just left or right. New memories must be formed. We need to see where Lynn did the Bee. Need to see where I ran with the team up the hill. Need to experience and leave the times I went back to Kathleen's and Brian finding us. Would talk about the new PRMC,  reminiscing some more. These moments matter. They all do. There is more road to drive. There are more Avenue R’s to live.

Summer in September

Here Comes the Sun
Thursday, the day before the weekend starts. Sitting on BJs corner for a moment watching the sunrise. Its up already. Morning has started. Trains have passed and the cars streaming past. Days are shorter. Darkness comes sooner. Nights are colder. Autumn is upon us. 

SAD
When the Fall comes, can’t help feel a bit sadness. Summer is soon gone, time to hibernate. Seasonal affect disorder(SAD)--It is. It is when some feel depressed. People sleep more. Eat more carbohydrates. They are lacking in energy. This has been my mood of late. Something is coming to an end. Ennui my company.

Entertain the Cells
If I were living anywhere outside of California, it would be much worse. Here in the AV there is sun 320 days out of the year. Its bright and I need the constant heliotherapy. Not the type to fake and bake. My photoreceptors need the energy du soleil. Got to excite the cells.

Lessons  Soon Learned
For many, it is time for school. My nieces started a couple days ago. One said she didn’t like this time of the year. She worries that she would have forgotten all the school lessons last school year. Her older sister doesn’t want to go because she is not with family. For both, summer has come and gone so quickly. Don’t have the heart to tell them each year it will get shorter as they grow up. Time just flies by and before they know it they will be longing for simpler times. That blur only gets worse. For now, I will just smile. It is a lesson they will learn themselves.

Hard To Let Go
On FB, I saw a post from a person I once knew. A good friend of long ago who seems to have taken leave from friendship. Haven’t heard from him in years. My grade school buddy, my middle school sleepover companion, my high school life friend . He was the one I could always turn to. I miss him dearly. We were neighbors at one time. My best friend through the sunnier times.

Seasons Change--People Change
However, life happened in the middle. Season changed. Summer left and Fall came quickly upon us. Our life rhythms went a different paces. My bloom to leave the AV happened sooner. His later. Hoped at one time to reconnect and share the summers again. However, nothing still. Made a request to let it go, but the desert landscapes reminds me to stay the course. Fall would be longer for me.  His life went elsewhere and from I’ve heard his transformation had some difficulties.

Visionquest
I can relate. Needed to be away. Had to find my place in the circle. Needed to cocoon. Needed to be away from what I was so I can be who I am. During the transformation, it was not that  pretty butterfly moment. It was ugly. Not my best moments. Don’t much blame him for not wanting to be friends anymore. You see the stuff in the middle, well, it was not something I have been very proud of.

In life, some things you wish that it were different. For me, these are one of those things. Yet, life showed me that I can’t be who I am if it weren’t for the things that I’ve done. Simply, all the Bad and Good is me. Still, these lessons are hard learned and even harder to accept. It teaches that we want and need does not come cheap. The price paid for these precious gifts teaches us the values of little things and reminds us that we are all so very rich. So if and when these possibilities come again, you are not so apt act carelessly. It reminds us to spend freely Love. For the return is much exponentially much greater. So spend the love, get love, and be richer.

Meanings, Moments, Mine
What is great about this season is we can take a moment. We can remember and plan of better times. We can think back when the biggest worries in life were if you would remember the lesson from school last year. We remember shining moments with your family and “bestest buddy” forever and realize how precious these are.  

Sunset
As the nights take up more of the twenty-four, one can dream more of better times that once were and about more fantastic days to come. Winter will come soon and things will end.  There’s no stopping that. One would not want to. A truth hard learned. However, the one lesson that my nieces will discover is that even though the summer ends more quickly, they will soon realize that the winter is not so cold and the Spring will here again.

So Brian if you read this, I’d like to know how the years have treated you and what life lessons you learned. Like my niece, I miss time with family, too. Can’t expect to have the memorable  summers swimming and at Winfield’s playing pinball. That is okay. Memories of our friendship has fueled this hibernation. Winter has been so long between us. Spring is more fun with an old friend.

So here I must go use this short sunny day, Summer still lives and Fall I am not quite ready for your visit. Yet.  Got to build on the banks of good memories. Need the stuff of pleasant dreams and possibilities of better springs. Need to ride those roller coasters of life. I need the stuff to keep my winters warm.

His name is Vince

Birthday Coming Soon
It’s my childhood best friend’s birthday in a couple of days. We haven’t talked in years. We lived next door and he was good man from what I remember. Intelligent, a voracious reader. Good family, great friend. 

He was a better friend than I ever was to him. His ex- girlfriend tells me to keep Hope. Have patience. I do. I will. Don’t worry about that. Can’t change the past. Can’t undo things I’ve done and didn’t do. Many birthdays have passed since we last talked. Sixteen I think. Four Presidential elections ago. Four Olympics ago. 16 graduating classes has passed since we last spoke.

Can’t ask him to be my friend again. It’s not something that I think is feasible nor reasonable. Much time has passed. Much life has been missed. Much has been forgotten. Much has not been forgiven. Can’t say I blame him. I was not so good person for a time.

He knew me when I was not a good friend. He was still a friend despite my stupidness.

I don’t know how he is anymore. Don’t know how he’s been. Don’t know who he is.

Better Times

Joshua Hills. Making forts in the desert. Swimming in his pool. Arthur. Winfield Scott, Arcade games. Gatorade and Jack Daniels. Reading the Dragon trilogy, Raistlin and Tas. AV Mall and Walden Books.  Denny’s with the Zebra. . .Well Much has passed. My Bonsai tree died, too. Time has moved on. As it should.

Can’t step in the same river twice.  

It’s your birthday soon. I hope you and your other have a blessed day. I hope you have a blessed life. 

Lisa, don’t worry. My heart is still open. My head is too hard to give up Hope. If not in this life, then the next.  Lisa, you are right, we got to live with decision we make. No regrets. A bigger plan is out there. Sometimes we are too small at the time to see the big picture. Faith in others makes us have faith in ourselves.   

Love unconditionally. I do. I send my love to him, to you, and to yours.

Balloon Therapy

D. Valdez--"It is ALWAYS GRANTED when asked for....

Couple days ago asked for Forgiveness. On Facebook. Couple of nights ago, got in a car accident.

Driving on Palmdale Boulevard at a quarter past eight at night. Just past the rotary and out of nowhere. . .it looked like a white boxer. Brown, too. It was to my right. It was dark. Driving 50. It happened in a split second.

Moving On Means Going Back, Too
All of sudden, Blam!!! Continued driving. Had this sinking feeling. Unfortunately, I’ve hit dogs before late at night, but this was different. Drove on. Got home, but couldn't stop. Decided to go back. Flipped a U-ie. Called the 911 to inform police to where the incident happened. Felt horrible. Why? Because I just kept going.

It was only 3 minutes there and back--I remember--since the accident happened. But needed to know that dog was not suffering. Emergency lights on, drove up and down the street twice looking for the dog. No blood. No dog. No nothing. When the officer arrived, we searched but could not find a thing. Nothing. 

Stopped under a light and got to see the dent to the right front bumper. It was good foot in length. Time for a new bumper. What troubled me the most is not the accident. Nor the deductible. It was not finding the dog. Just bothered me so. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat. Couldn’t get mind off it. Remembering the crunch. Feeling of the steering wheel trying to correct the car after the swerve. Just wanted to ease my mind knowing that dog didn’t suffer much.

Salvation Is Not Always In Church
Logically knew there was not much more that could be done. Mind was straight, just my heart felt heavy. It was an accident, no one’s fault, but it weighed on me. Woke up the next morning, foregoing my walk and run. Just left the house. Found myself at St. Mary’s and just prayed. It was 6:40 am. Ten minutes in the morning mass.  I prayed, took communion, and then left still feeling uneasy.

Message From the Heaven
On the way to LCH, noticed from a distance a dot in the sky. Couldn't quite tell. what it was. Driving closer and closer to Lancaster, past Avenue N, past Avenue K, the dot got bigger and bigger. Got to the hospital. Sitting in the parking lot, pulled the Pentax out and started looking for that dot in the sky. Couldn't quite tell still. Its a Monday. No hot air balloons on a weekday. People are working. 

Using the zoom, I realized the dot in the sky was a hot air balloon. An uncommon sight. Usually it’s a Saturday or Sunday when balloons dot the sky. Today, there it was. Most people would be out working, but this day was different. Started noticing my heart feeling lighter. Guess, my prayers were heard. Right then, realized and accepted damage was done and needed to move on.

Junipero Serra's Missions: Looking Up, Moving On
Something about looking up in the sky, and watching hot air balloons. My mind understood, but my heart still felt heavy for the loss. My heart needed to let go. It needed to lighten. It hurt and it bothered me. But seeing the dot in the sky helped me moved on. Can’t erase this memory, but one can reconcile on the mistakes made. 

Took pictures of a hot air balloon that was down a day earlier. Saw its descent and its landing on a field. Saw the retrieval truck pick up the passengers on their landing. Saw how the retrieval team follow the balloon on the roads. It was dangerous because the balloon was on Avenue M, near the airport. Right in front where planes land. Saw how quickly they were able to pick up these people up in the heavens and take them home.Maybe this is how Angels work.

Hindu Temple, Karma
I hope that the Dog found peace. I hope that Dog had lived a good life. I hope that Angels were able to pick up this Dog and take it to Heaven, to take the dog Home. I hope the Dog will forgive me.

After some time, it made me realize that we make mistakes. Sometimes people cause accidents. Sometimes people are the victims of accidents. Asking for and giving Forgiveness is hard at times. Whether you go to Church or Temple, there is something transformative in the act of Forgiving. Learned that lesson well. 

Angels Everywhere
Been burdened with heavy heart for a time. Now, done my crying. Done my hurting. Working on being Done with the heavy heart. "No more" is the plan. Got to pick up and let my soul take flight. Brian, Em, Robin, and so on—I Love You dearly. Got to go. Got to go with God. You are always with me. I believe the Big Smile will bring us back together.

Someday. 

Maybe next time we can do it better.

Harsh Words

Never have I felt so far. Read a few stories from a website Scribophile. My hopes were to improve my writing and get some criticism. Well, how can I put this?

Ouch.


Wheels Turning and I Am Under the Tire
No, I haven't joined yet. Reading what others have written; Yeah, I've got a ways to go. Much of the drive to write better came from Glitter. She started blog on her Myspace. She had few posts with a number of comments. Knew she was good. She won a few contests. She wrote for NYSplash. Seen her work on the website. Seen her picture with many luminaries. Read one post and I think she blasted me. Won't go into details, but my feelings are hurt. This could be imagined. This could be about someone else, yet, I suspect it could be me. (Names and business were changed)


No, Its Not You. . .Okay?
Whoa! It hurts because its probably true. Having your one-time friend say things that are unkind, but probably true. Ouch. If ever confronted she can deny it being me. Oh, another time. If we were closer, if we remained connected, if we were. . .well, that's another time. How much weight should I give this criticism if I am the subject of her rant? How much weight should I give since it was another time, another me, another another. Maybe this Gremlin manifesting itself, again? Maybe it is working its spell to give me self-doubt and self-loathing?

Perhaps, this is how it starts? A short sentence on Myspace, a harsh exchange with a loved one, or a public bashing caught on YouTube--All the shots on a person psyche? The words of a lost friend who shot you with honesty and personal feeling. Don't want to give it too much credence or power. Honesty can sting. Like a well placed shot to the eyes. Or it could be an upward strike to the nose that sends shards of broken nose bone up your frontal lobe? Blinded or dead. Choice is how to take this blow. These are the voices can cause lifelong pain.


Mean Words Are Funny, But They Hurt
Maybe, its my roosters coming home. I was once the verbal assailant to an old friend. Exchanges of middle schoolers can be worse than a UFC match. "Mr. V is so fat when he goes to beach, Animal Rights people try to push him in the water. Mr V is so big satellites start to orbit him. "Mr B is so Big when he sits around the house, He sits AROUND the house. Mr. V's teeth are so yellow, when he smiles, cars start to slow down." Aaahhh. I was so wrong. I was so mean. I was so stupid. Words hurt.

If what I am feeling is a just a tiny percentage of the psychic damage I caused Mr. V, then shame on me. Never wanted to hurt one's feelings like that. Nothing scarring for life. Just wanted a good laugh. Alpha male thing. Hahahaha. Jokes on me. I am an ass. Such damage. This constant barrage can leave one psychically F*%ked, Sorry, V.


Greeks Had It Right: Psyhce Means Soul
Well, I've been having a thing with Voices lately. Words can be worse than giving nunchucks to a kid. Read a book mythology. As a one-time psychology major, the word Psyche stood out. It was my understanding that Psychology meant the studying of the mind. In Greek and Roman mythology, Psyche was the offspring of  one of the Greek Gods. The Greeks meant Psyche to mean the "Soul." This realization troubled me.  What brought the light to me was that this study of the mind was really a study of the soul. The mean words we say can have a dramatic effect on one's soul, one's character, one's emotional makeup.Good positive words of encouragement can make a world of difference; while the latter, well, too often we know the consequences of sharp words.

Pow Sandwich

Learned sandwich approach from the Great Pow, Management guru extraordinaire. Peter Drucker, you've got nothing on Pow. When giving sandwich criticism, say one good thing you liked, then specific correct BEHAVIOR you would like to see, then give another shot of praise. One needs to be specific and when I say BEHAVIOR it means the behavior, not the person. Person needs feedback. Trust me writing a blog, people need feedback. Ideally, its positive. However in my case with Glitter. It was fair, harsh, a bit truthful, yet her opinion. One can take it with a grain of salt and go in denial. Or one can stay and wallow in hurtful words. One can learn take what one says to heart, and move on. Well, I've done the first two, guess I'll try option three.

Ask It, Got To Give It
Need to do some work before I throw my hat in the Scribophile. No Guts, No Glory. Got to burn away the fat. It will be my crucible. Let's see what sterner stuff I'm made of. If I'm going to say I blog, I need to strap on a pair.  As for Mr. V, I'm an Ass. Sorry. As for Glitter, You weren't so nice. I thank you for sharing how you felt. By the way, F**k You. I Forgive You, too. If one's wants Forgiveness, then one needs to give it I still love you both, Mr. V and Glitter. No Hate In My Heart. Only got room for Love.

Message: Loud and Clear

Wednesday, February 10,2010—Last night left in a blink of an eye. Met with Father Vaughn. No, revelation. No hidden truths revealed. Just a guy talking about his job. A guy telling why I was here. Just two guys talking. There was some talking about God’s plans, but mostly it was about the challenges and pressures faced when leading a life of the clergy.

Underneath It All

This father reminded of Brian. Looked liked him. Spoke like him Wore glasses like him. Funny thing is I received an email from his ex-high school girlfriend and she said he went to seminary school. Brian, that is. I tried calling Brian’s parent old home number. Believed it rang. But I needed to hang up before I had a chance to leave a message or anyone to answer. From what I heard, Brian is headed down to So Cal to see his son, I think. Not sure on the gender.  Brian is Kung Fu Panda. I'm the one with bald spot.

Next Morning Blood Sugar 165. Diabetic Coma

Anyways, I had to replay the events of the day. I wasn’t sure if Brian was the priest. I knew he wasn’t but when Lisa said he was considering the clergy. . .I had to replay the conversation that I had with the  Father. After the meeting, I had full intentions with going to the RCIA meeting at 7. I fell asleep. Didn’t eat in the morning and I was hungry. Got some a serving of Lasagna and some brisket. Made a couple of brisket open face sandwiches. Also warmed up a heated cinnamon muffin. Yummy. I put it in the toaster oven and the frosting was melting on the aluminum foil covering toaster pan. It was scrumptious.

Brian Turning Up Everywhere

Guess, it was too much because I was knocked out. Got a warm blanket and started watching some UFC, thinking this will wake me up. Yet, the upcoming storm and the big house windows made me bundle up. Decided to take a short nap before going to the evening meeting; good, in theory. Hour nap before meeting. I told the Father he would see me there.  Well, I woke up at 9:17 pm. Missed the meeting. Barnes and Noble closing  at 11 and It’s a Grind closed at 9. Gym, well, I was snuggled up and I decided to go back to sleep.  Woke up again and 3 and thought about the gym.  I would have ample time to get a workout and come back for today’s events seeing how yesterday was initially task-completion filled. I pulled the covers over my head and went back to bed. (Truck Driver reminded me of Brian)

Brian, Always Been There. . .

No revelations. No truths revealed. It was two guys sharing. We spoke of his lifestyle going from one church to another. I am not going to reveal too much more. Meeting was held in confidence. No darks secrets revealed. No one, except one. I wrote about it, but never posted. Not yet.  Maybe. . .still don’t know. Only two people know about it, except the ones involved. Some other time. I guess. (Windmill in Palmdale)

Meaning of the meeting: It’s Brian. Just Brian.

Turn a Different Corner . . .

Tibetan Book of Dead. Reincarnation. Multi-Generational process. Do you know your purpose in life? Have you answered that calling that burns inside of you? Do you know your own life question?

It has been said the people are close in our lifetimes are the ones we have been close many lifetimes. Think about your best friend right now. Is there or has there been something always familiar you have always felt with that person?

I think of Shazam, Elaine, and Brian.
Elaine is my soul mate. No, doubt in mind. She was the one. I knew her before I knew her. I was drawn to her. I knew not why, but from the moment we were friends, I knew she was the one. Just wasn't for this lifetime, but for many lifetimes. Shazam--my life was missing something for many years. We lost contact for years. We reconnected. Brian, my next door neighbor, growing up was somebody I sorely missed and still miss.

It is said we have these connections with great friends and terrible enemies. The threads of life are so intertwined that we keeping meeting until we get it right. We keep meeting, doing the same thing, playing the role over and over again. We keep having these chance encounters until we do it right. Think Robin Williams, What Dreams May Come. Robert Downey, Jr and Chances Are.

Sometimes, these connections are with someone we passionately hate. Do you know of anyone that just always seem rub each other the wrong way? It probably is some past life karma. These connections are enemies for life. Well, it could be for life or until you decide to fix and resolve these past sleights.

In our Hero's journey we have the significant others that we can count on to love--to hate--to be connected. Through thick and thin, we stay with these friends. An accidental sleight can turn our most trusted compatriots to our most detested enemies. Reed Richard and Dr. Doom. Peter Parker and the Green Goblin. Charles Xavier and Magneto. Close friends became are most rivaled enemies. I sleighted my closest friend and he hates me with a passion. I apologized to him in an email and I fear his hate and anger for me are still very deep. I have not heard any word since. Sometimes these relationships are of loved one's lost. A road that turned a different corner. Lancelot du Lac, Arthur Pendragon, and Guenevere. Jean Grey, Scott Summers, and Logan. It was Elaine, Michael, and Me. Good friends turned by rivals because of Love.

These stories have been told over and over again. Players have changed, but the game remains the same. Turn a different corners and we would have never known and met. I thank these times when we risked and were rewarded. I risk and flow. I imagine the reward of meeting an old friend for the very first time.