Friends of the future.

Having examined the subject of friendship in so many different ways over the last 30 days, I've become aware of some new ways to look at it. I've received what I consider to be some incredible support from (some) people who I didn't consider to be particularly close friends, and I want to thank you all for that. I've also written some pretty profound verbiage in the hope that certain individuals would see it and gain insight into my life as a result...moreover, insight into how I felt about them and how I wish they felt about me. Sadly, I don't think the more poignant revelations I put out ever reached their intended audience. They remain here, immortalized in perpetuity in case those individuals should ever stumble upon this work. Not a likely scenario. In the end, like most things on the Internet, this work is just meaningless drivel. Some of you might get something out of it, but most of you won't. Most of the people I know will never even see it. If I should ever do something that really impacts the world someone will dredge this up and cite these writings as a testament to the kind of person I am (or was).
I have no illusions about being famous, or even leaving a big mark on the world. In my mind, that which most of us consider to be important is really meaningless. Things like what you do for a living; what any news organization has to say about anything; what is legal; and above all what your religious morality dictates to you is right and wrong. None of these things provide shade on a hot summer day, but a tree will for decades to come. Most of these things will bring little (if any) enjoyment into a person's life, but those bike rides sure did. Most of these things will not bring peace to a stranger's troubled spirit, but some of this writing or some of the music I play might.
Having passed the one third mark of my life ten years ago, I've given much thought to mortality lately, and with it what kind of legacy I will leave behind. I don't care if people say I was a dick, as long as they remember that I lead a whole lot of really fun bike rides. I don't care if people thought I was an asshole, as long as someone enjoys the shade of the trees I've planted. Finally, I don't even care if people think I was some sort of whack job as long as I provide something, somewhere that will change a person's life for the better.
That said, let me offer you my friends some advice.
Do what you want to do, and do it now!
I spent the first 30 years of my life thinking: "Some day I'm going to..." "Some day" like the song says, never comes. If you can do it now, God dammit do it now! If you can't, find a way to do it soon!
Don't care what other people think!
I've said this before. We all have lots of friends who love us just the way we are. They're going to keep loving us just the way we are, no matter what we do. If they don't, and this will happen to all of us, let it go. I am saddened by lost friendships, but to me they seem inevitable. If you tell me you're gay, or you've become a vegetarian (or worse a Democrat), or anything short of having picked up the NaMBLA banner...I'm still going to love you. We are not here to judge each other. When we do, that is what ends our friendships.
Do good things in the world!
Too many of you are spending way too much time watching reruns of Matlock. Get off your god damn asses and get out there! Volunteer. Help your neighbors. Help strangers. Help somebody. If you see a guy holding a sign that says: "why lie I need a beer." Give the bum a dollar! If you're walking down the street and you see a lot of homeless people, pop into the next McDonald's and get five or ten double cheeseburgers. They're only 99¢. Hand them out. Whatever you choose, do something completely selfless, something that only benefits others...and do it regularly. Make an impact in the world, even if (especially if) nobody ever recognizes you for it.
Finally, and this may be the most important piece of advice I offer.
Never...and I mean NEVER...take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
I may never know these friends of the future, but I leave this work for them to consider.
Be well my friends. Tomorrow's posting will be on the subject of having written these last 30 essays.