Listening to country music...hanging out with the person who supports me best:)...ME:):):)...
Maybe the reason I've been listening to so much country music, lately, is because it reminds me of the period of my life where there was someone around when I most needed them who supported me better than anyone else:):):):):):)...
Me:):):):):):)...
When Jenny and I broke up when I was a senior in college, I was a lost little puppy...I had several groups of friends...but...you know the routine...when you break up with someone, your friends can, often, be kind of dicks about it:):):)...noone wants to hear about it very long:):):)...or at least not as long as you need to be heard on it:):):)...
That is...all of my friends...except one:):):)...
Brandi:):):)...
...which is EXACTLY why I -- eventually...not right off:) -- fell MADLY in love with her:):):):):):)...
...because she supported me better than any friend I had ever had:):):):):):)...
...and that's what love really is, I think:):):):):):)...
...and I am proud to say, today, that the person that supported me best through my last break-up and who I can depend on for the rest of my life -- including times like these when I'm feeling a little more distrustful of all my friends than hanging out with Rascal Flats and the Dixie Chicks:)...and U2:):):)...and Toby Keith:):):)...and Darryl Worley:):):)...and Diamond Rio:):):)...and a lot of good movies:):):)...and Melissa, of course, since we talk every day:):):)...living together will do that:):):)...
...and...right now:):):)...The Scissor Sisters:):):):):):)...
...I am proud to say that the person that supported me best during that time and who I can still count on best to be supportive when I need it, rather than bitchy or taking their shit out on me:)...
Is me:):):):):):)...
And that's who I plan to hang out with until I feel like I can trust that when the turtle sticks his head out from his shell, that the monkeys are not going to throw their shit at him:):):):):):)...
I know...a crude analogy:):):):):):)...but one that works, I think:):):):):):)...
I love the Scissor Sisters, by the way:):):):):):)...even if they're not Rascal Flats:):):):):):)...or Diamond Rio:):):):):):)...
Last night I realized that I think the most important virtue for ANYONE to have is not to be good, in any particular way...or perfect (which is impossible and an illusion and a dangerous and self-righteous illusion at that:):):):):):)...
The MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUE CAN HAVE, I think, is TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES:):):):):):)...to make up their own minds:):):)...independence of thought:):):):):):):)...
And it is the ONE VIRTUE that we spend MORE TIME UNDERMINING than any other...
Because people who don't respect it enough do too much running of shit around these parts...
Planet Earth, that is:):):):):):)...
It is the ONE VIRTUE that is more important than any other...and which is taken for granted more than any other, I think...
Sadly...for all of our sakes...
That will changing soon enough...I'm confident...
But in the meantime...it's a big pain in the ass to have people lord over me/you with threats of all kinds if I think too much for myself or express myself too honestly that I can hardly stand it sometimes...
People need to stop being such FRAGILE LITTLE BITCHES and to to give all us...everyone...more room to live...and grow...and learn...and make mistakes...
And those who do, will live better lives...
Guaranteed...
Societies which do so, now, have individuals and groups of folks who are, by and large, FAR HAPPIER and live lives of FAR HIGHER QUALITY than those who don't...
And for whatever stupid, dumbass, foolish reasons...
So many of them are working BACKWARDS along this principle and simultaneously FORWARDS (where forward looking, freedom-loving people assert their need for freedom) for their own sakes...
And my society is no exception...unfortunately...and it tires me the fuck out...
Talk with everyone later:)....
Love,
Ben
