Lughnasa Waxing Honey Extraction Moon
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
Five men came together tonight at the Black Forest. Brothers. Men who have stood shoulder to shoulder for over twenty years, through marriage and divorce, through conflict and calm. We sat outside, under a clear plastic roof that sprayed water on us while we talked when the wind blew up. The usual conversation. Mark’s knee. Getting better. Frank’s trip to Ireland. Everyone had a great time. Stefan’s sons. My brother. Bill and I talked computers, how to back up ancientrails, whether I might mine it for a book, or two. How I might redesign it.
We went over each others lives, we know the history, the background, the context. We listened and nodded, ate our polish sausages and sauerkraut or lentil and sausage soup, felt the late heat of a stormy day begin to creep out from under the clouds.
We see each other twice a month at least, sometimes more. Always we stay alert to each other, exchanging e-mails, funny and serious.
I’m proud to call these men my friends.
