Catching Up on Viewer Mail

When I started the blog I had modest goals: I wanted to be a famous writer, and I wanted to change the world. Of course none of that happened, but what did happen was marvelous. Every day, or at least most every day, I get to write, and I get these marvelous responses from some wonderful people. The blog has become a virtual corner coffee shop where we get together and chat a few minutes. If you don't normally read the comments below each post I encourage you to do so, because the FOBs make contributions that are touching and insightful and funny.

It has been a joy to open up my email and find, in addition to the all-caps pronouncements that I've won an Irish lottery for which I never bought a ticket, or someone with a polysyllabic last name and an official-sounding title needs my help transferring a fortune from some remote corner of the world to my bank account, there is a hug or a hearty handshake from someone I just love being around. Earlier this week in a fit of blueness, which overcomes me sometimes, I mused aloud with discouragement and reflected that I may have to give up writing this picking of the navel lint, but I realize I couldn't possibly: it's a daily love letter to my drop dead gorgeous wife, my smart funny beautiful daughter, and my clever wise insightful interesting closest friends. How could I give all that up, close the doors on a bar where everyone knows your name, and all your personal business?

This will be a marvelous weekend, for no other reason other than it's the weekend. I encourage you to sleep in late and make love to your spouse. Brush your teeth, take a hot shower together, have a banana and a cup of cocoa in bed, snuggle and kiss a while and smooch fervently until all you want to do is couple with the one person who lights your fire and knocks your socks off. Be fruitful and multiply your joy. It's a great part of why God put you on this earth. The kids just want to watch cartoons anyway. Follow up your illicit tryst with a soothing delicious 40-minute snooze. The exact number of minutes do not matter. Then pile everyone into the family truckster for a large, celebratory family breakfast at your favorite spot. Stephanie knows a cafe in Yakima that would be just be perfect. There's one in every town, where the hashbrowns are crisp and fluffy and made from real potatoes, the pancakes are light and perfectly turned and the bacon is thick with bacon goodness. This is Saturday morning. You can work out later. In my neighborhood the spot is the Gateway Breakfast House. If you are ever out this way you can call me on my T-Immobile phone, the number is 503-560-1354. That's right, I just published my phone number. It's more important to me that you have it than if some idiot does. If someone calls I don't want to talk to I can just hang up. And T-Immobile will probably drop the call anyway.

My one and only true love is across town this morning lugging a grocery cart, but in another month or so we'll be back to our own delicious rituals and routines. One of the great joys of having a partner is having a partner in crime, the stolen moments you share, the adventures and escapades you carve out of the ordinary drudge of the day. It's marvelous to be around someone you just enjoy more than anyone else, who shares your quirky sense of humor and loves being around you. All of you know what I mean, because you are caring, alive, interesting and interested people, or you wouldn't be coming back every day. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. As Brad from Eugene wrote,

In these uncertain times, when so many of us are necessarily focused on our bank accounts, 401(k) balances and job prospects, we would do well to remember the rest of the line:

"Buy it and never count the cost,
for a breath of ecstasy,
Give all you have been, or could be."

In other words: Life is short. Live the love you feel.

It's not likely that the blog will make me a famous writer or change the world. But it has brought me something better: a few minutes a day with all of you.