Some friends, if you call them such, last a moment, a month, a year. Some stick around for 10, then you say goodbye. Others are here for life. I've met 1000s of people in my life, but very few stuck. Of course, I consider my fellow Loungers internet friends of sorts. I've even met a few of you.
Among the people I know now, I've known just about everyone for nearly a decade. I guess that we were all just coming here to LA and we were young, more open to learning about people. I meet quite a few people these days, but I guess I'm at that age now where people have kids and look uglier. I don't know. Interesting people all the same.
All of my friends have left town over the past few years. Good for them, I suppose, though it is strange to be the only one who stuck it out in this city, especially since I am the least artistic among my friends.
One is the film maker and professional editor. He went to school and even had a few friends who worked in the Industry. I helped him cast, find actors, and find locations for an independent film he was making. I'll leave the story at that. He now lives in Small Town, USA, and couldn't be happier. He still does what he loves, finds women, and lives for dirt cheap. We've always been super positive towards each other, incredibly open about our lives, and generally have acted as a support system to each other.
Another one moved away and "plans to move back," which he's been talking about for nearly 2 years now. Such an unusual and interesting guy, who has a degree in literature and paleontology. Plays guitar, worked as a lighting rigger at theaters, construction, and even as an accountant, and yeah, can drink like a fish. Always super interesting and intelligent conversations with this guy. Our arguments should go down as some of the most epic in history, especially when alcohol is involved.
The last person I would like to talk about is my long-time pen pal. I've known her for many years. We've never met, talked on the phone, or even shared pictures of ourselves, though we've sent quite a few pictures of our experiences and other silly photos. It's strange knowing someone for so long yet know nothing at all. We've managed to keep it positive over all the years, taking our life issues in stride and preferring to joke about the stupidity of caring. She has the world's most awesome job if you are into studying how people died. Sometimes the creative way people get killed grinds on her. Talking to her has pissed of, or at least disturbed, a few of my exes, but I guess that isn't an unexpected reaction. Overall, she is probably the most intelligent woman I've ever known, and I'm led to understand she's good-looking. We'll probably never meet though.
My good friend elliot4978372615347527 trains MMA fighters by getting their heads screwed on correctly. He also hosts poker training sessions with Jonathan Little.
I have many old friends. This past summer, while traveling in NC, Joan and I went out to dinner twice with my friend George and his wife. I've known George since kindergarten, and we have been friends for over fifty years. Most of my other close friends are from high school and early on in college. We always manage to see each other a few times during the year although it's more difficult now with work and other responsibilities, to say nothing of all of us being over sixty.
I'm also lucky to have worked in the same place for over twenty years and have good friends at work.
In fact, I consider many posters here to be friends although we have never met in person.
All of my friends share common attributes: intelligence, wit, a generosity of spirit, and a tolerance of me.
I feel considerably more connected to my friends than my family. My overall happiness often depends on them. One of my good ones is at the Final table of the main...Hope he ships it
