Hey, Ebbie:

I wrote a line in a song that was about my friendship with Art Thieme:

"For all the burdens that we've shared, let us lift our voice in praise."

I thought of that, reading your comments. Looking back over my life, I see how everything that has happened to me has shaped me into who I am, and prepared me for what needs to be done. I can see where some of the most painful, destructive things that have happened to me have given me the right to say, "I've been there, and you will get through this." I sure wish that I didn't have to learn some things in such a hard way, and that I hadn't hurt so many others in the process. The only positive way forward that I see is to use those painful experiences to bring comfort and assurance to others who are going through them.

In a friendship, it's natural to remember the good times you've shared and be thankful for them. But here's to the hard times, too!

"I know there were times when nothing went right
Sometimes we stayed up most all of the night
You had your troubles, God knows I had mine
But still we had us one Hell of a time"

                                     from Winter To Spring

Going through Hell together sure beats going it alone.

Jerry