Fatherhood Friday
Anyone who has read TNH Guy posts before knows I place a high value on guy time. Between being a dad, a husband, an employee and myriad other roles in life, being able to spend time with the guys sometimes feels like it keeps me sane.
I'm not talking about just hanging out with some dudes to talk about sports. I'm talking about real, quality time with real, quality friends. I recall reading studies over the years about how few (if any) quality friends most men have, yet how important having even one close male friend can improve your health.
I feel pretty fortunate in that I have more than a handful of great male friends. And last weekend was an awesome reminder of that. As I've mentioned before, we've moved quite a bit over the years. It means fewer and further time between visits with old friends.
Last weekend I went to one of my former towns to see one of my closest buddies get remarried. This is a guy who has been like an older brother to me, helping me navigate through the last decade of life's journey. Sharing in his special memory meant the world to me.
One of the best things that happened at the wedding was seeing the guys I used to play basketball with. Maybe not a big deal for some. But as I've commented before, these guys were more than a group for weekly exercise. I didn't know everyone so well. But, after each game we'd go out to a bar or restaurant and really dig deep into life together. It made a deep impression on me and is one of the very few things I truly miss about living there.
Seeing the guys made me realize that I made an impression on them too. I hadn't thought about it before, but I was jazzed to know that I was missed, almost as much as I missed them. Its nice to know that when you walk away from an experience that means a lot to you, that you brought just as much it.
We joked around about using technology so I can participate in the post-game conversations. But I don't think I want to do that. As much as I miss the guys, I now realize that the carved out place/memory I have for them today is just as valuable as the experience of discussing life with them was at that time. That's an exchange I'll take.
(photo credit: www.bethanypc.com)
Comments