Ora et labora

I like to think of Bill as my friend. He's the kind of friend that I allude to when I explain how I deal with depression. My personal solution for depression is to evaluate my friends. I always feel better about myself and my world after this exercise. The premise being I have to be okay as a person because they care about me. If I was as bad as I sometimes feel surely such fine folks wouldn't care about me. The Bill I know has two great qualities that while not unique are special and to be desired if one wants to be a good person. First and foremost is his efforts to be a good father. No one is a naturally good parent. It takes concious effort. Bill puts forth the effort. He's a good father. The other trait is harder for me to explain. I understand it and appreciate it because in a small way I share it with Bill.
For me it's with my work. I look at a project and know what the final product will be. A lot of the time I'm not sure how I'll facillitate the transformation but I know that I will and it will turn out like I've envisioned. And when it's complete I'm as surprised as anyone at the outcome. It's a form of naivete I guess. All I know is it's special and I treasure it because it's so special. With Bill I see it in how he's so appreciative and again, surprised when things work out the way he's worked like heck to make them work out. It's the same form of a naivete I think, that dreams really do come true maybe? A lot of people would stand there and beat on their chest like it was a pair of snare drums if they had the personal and professional success Bill has enjoyed. They earned it. Not Bill. No Bill is in awe of his good fortune. Naivete, maybe. But it's special and to be treasured, by his friends, by strangers, and by good people everywhere. I have to issue a disclaimer. Bill is an internet friend. Yup, he's one of those people you find on the internet that shares ideas and news out of a passion and respect for ideas and news.
Our bond is our respect for moderation. Our polar positions on a topic has become encapsulated by common passions for friends and family. We haven't compromised on our positions. But we haven't allowed our positions to compromise our respect for each other either. That's friendship in my book. Bill I feel is my friend. Rod's note of appreciation for Bill doesn't surprise me as much as I'm sure it surprises Bill. That's one of the reasons I think he's so special.

Am I the only one to find lawyers insisting upon the last word frustrating? You're a better man Bill, a much better man. A great example of happenstance happening just right.