Port Ponderings

The weekly Madden quotes:

The other guy (in reference to sport annnouncer expecting a baby): She's chosen the names of Hall of Famers for her baby.
Madden: How about Bucketts?
Other guy: (silence)
Madden: You know...Hall of Famer Bucketts from Green Bay? I think Bucketts would make a really nice name for a baby.
Other guy: (Dead silence)

How can you not love that guy? MNF just won't be the same without him...


Well, I'm finally back from Baltimore. I love that city. It appears, from talking to other people, that I'm alone in the sentiment, but it doesn't change anything. It's quite likely that my 40-year plan will take me to Baltimore for a few years and I won't cry. Not a single crocodile tear.

I was in Baltimore on business, so I lived the high life. I could get used to it. Beds with feather pillows and quilts, gourmet food, awesome free gifts (a briefcase!), and lots of schmoozing (and boozing for some).

On the 3rd night that we were there, our organization was invited to a wine and dine at the Aquarium. We arrived and discovered that my name had been left of the invite list. The Aquarium was very stern in its policy. Any name not submitted 24 hours in advance could not be admitted. One of our party, H, went to find the host of the shindig and complain. The sweetest guy in the world, L, waited with me because "it's not safe to walk back alone, so if you can't come in, I'll have to walk you to the hotel." (I did not tell him that I've been to Baltimore several times and know how to take care of myself.)

After a few minutes, H came tearing down the hall, a look of fire on her face. She grabbed L and I. "We're going to dinner!" she announced to the maitre d' and dragged us out the door. As the doors moved to close, she looked back at the wait staff and said, "And you can keep your sticker!"

She removed the starfish that indicated her status as an invited guest and stuck it to the glass door. L and I tried to maintain our composure, but failed when she turned to us and said, "But it looked like such a fun Aquarium! They even have dolphins!"

From that moment, we were all the best of friends. We talked as though we'd known each other for 10 years, not 10 days. I told all my stories and L blushed like a lunatic when H and I got laughing about embarrassing breast moments. We stayed out late and then L walked us home, convinced we would get dumped in the harbor if he didn't. (He declared us "Cool, because you had brothers." I replied, "Are you claiming that we became cool via male influence?" L said, "Uhm, no. Your coolness was always there, but your brothers made it so guys would get it." Very funny/smart guy, that L.)

I spent some time pondering what makes a friendship happen. I have friends of all different races, creeds, religions, mantras, and ages, but I've also known people who were so similar to me but we never achieved friendship. What makes the determination?

I've decided there's only one true ingredient in friendship: loyalty. With one amazing display of loyalty, I made two new friends. But, without loyalty, other friendships have gone into disrepair or fallen apart completely.

The comforting thought is that friendship became very simple to me. I guess what makes a friend is just finding someone who is willing to believe in you, give you the benefit of the doubt, and support you. And being a friend is that simple, too.

So, that's what I pondered in port at Baltimore between meetings and fun times. And it's yet another reason why I'll always love that place....