Friendships And Such

I was reading Sam's blog earlier regarding the lack of emphasis on maintaining friendships here in Michigan vs Los Angeles, and it got me thinking. We aren't all thrown together in a random potluck of people like they are in LA just trying to get by or make it in some capacity without our families and friends, we're already stuck here. Our families and friendships have been here forever, we see each other all the time, life is kinda boring, there isn't the excitement or hustle and bustle like there is out there. It's Michigan. But at the same time, it's Michigan! It's hard to explain, because it is still a great place to be, you just have to make it your great place to be. And believe me, that's pretty frickin' hard to do sometimes.

But, not all of us take for granted the friendships that we have right in front of us. It might seem that way sometimes, and it's no excuse, but life gets in the way - obligations like work, family, etc. I'm sure that happens just about everywhere, though.

In my life, I've been incredibly fortunate to make a quite a few friends across the country, and even the world. Maybe because I've lived in so many different places, maybe because of my independent streak for traveling across the country to see bands and meet up with strangers who become like kin to me. I think (or hope, rather) this gives me a greater appreciation for the value of friendship. I think my friends are the only way I can truly make it through every day. I don't know if it was my parents trying to instill this quality in me or myself, but I try to be as genuine as possible and as grateful as I can for every person that crosses my path. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the people in my life are there for a purpose. I also hope that I never, ever lose sight of these two qualities as they are what I believe to be some of my finer points.

Maybe I'm rambling here, but I was trying to respond to Sam by saying, "Hey, I think I get where you were coming from, and even though you thought you were coming across in a negative way I don't really think you were." It's hard to get your point across in the blogging medium because when you aren't speaking and using hand guestures, facial movements, and tone; people can't really see what you're trying to convey and they have to take what you're saying at face value (or typed value...whatevs). ANYWAYS, that's 90% of why I went to Bonnaroo a few weeks ago. Yeah, I really wanted to see all of those bands. But really really? I wanted to spend quality time with a group of awesome people that are part of my "chosen" family. And there are a few people in Michigan that I consider to be on that level as well, maybe they just don't realize it. (I'm talking to four of you that I know read this blog, specifically.) And to one of you, I knew that moving back here would at the least be a tad difficult - I just hope that the real friendships that you do have here will prove to be as meaningful in their own ways as the ones you have out in LA. I'm not harshin' on your melon, as Pauly Shore would say, *nerd alert* I'm trying to relate and let you know that we (your mitten friends) are here for you too. And if you want to have some huge group hangouts, the House of Sin is no stranger to hosting some pretty decent parties and your roommate is pretty cool about having people over. Just sayin'!

As for that picture up there, I'm missing those guys pretty damn hard right about now. Minus the guy in the back with the crooked hat, mostly because he was hella weird in a not so good way and I don't know him very well. I mean, who gets THAT terrified of a dinosaur on a Cheerios box? CTFO.