The Shell

I have known and met many people. With exception of my wife, I am not still good, close friends with them. I have tried to understand why this is. I do have many peripheral friends. Friends that when you first meet them are anonymous to you. My peripheral friends have a shell. The few that I have allowed to have that shell cracked to expose the inner person have been close friends for a while. Once the stuff of life starts oozing out the friendships starts to wane. The family members come to light. The relationship with the spouses becomes apparent. The dynamic issues in the family interferes with the relationship. I am not as lucky as other people. I find it difficult to to feel the same about someone once the shell has been broken and the yoke is all out. I love the adage "No one see you like someone else". It is that perception that is really the most important. I do care about the person that I project to others. Not that other people's opinions are always the most important but I would like the image that I have of myself to be close to the one that I show my acquaintances.

The Shell

I have known and met many people. With exception of my wife, I am not still good, close friends with them. I have tried to understand why this is. I do have many peripheral friends. Friends that when you first meet them are anonymous to you. My peripheral friends have a shell. The few that I have allowed to have that shell cracked to expose the inner person have been close friends for a while. Once the stuff of life starts oozing out the friendships starts to wane. The family members come to light. The relationship with the spouses becomes apparent. The dynamic issues in the family interferes with the relationship. I am not as lucky as other people. I find it difficult to to feel the same about someone once the shell has been broken and the yoke is all out. I love the adage "No one see you like someone else". It is that perception that is really the most important. I do care about the person that I project to others. Not that other people's opinions are always the most important but I would like the image that I have of myself to be close to the one that I show my acquaintances.

Why the National Anthem?

In light of recent news of people and athletes not holding their hands over their hearts during the playing of the American National Anthem and others sitting down during it's playing has led me to this blog. All day there has been commentary on why the National Anthem is played at sporting events and other occasions. They question the value of playing it even though many of the participants and guests are not American. They don't understand why. Well, I may not be the most flag waving person, especially abroad but this I understand. After 9/11 there was a wave of patriotism in the United States. God Bless America had begun to be sung at the seventh inning stretches at baseball games. That wave, to my knowledge has not ebbed. When the Anthem is played it is on American Soil at an American event. Regardless if some of the participants are not American they are lucky to be playing in America for American teams. I also believe the same respect should be paid to foreign anthems played the United States. I don't buy the feeble excuses that someone forgot or was caught up in pregame practice. You are in the United States, Honor The Anthem.