Give It Away Now
I was long ago taught a lesson I’ve never forgotten and which has brought me a lot of Good over the years:
Your friends are your most valued treasure.
So give them away.
I was in my younger twenties when I learned that one, and it arrested my attention for all its (then) counter-intuitiveness. But it didn’t take but one or two exercises in the practice before learning that there are few joys in life greater than seeing people you love meet one another and form a friendship of their own.
And that’s what happened the other night when, finally, my buddy Jeff flew into town. The stars lined up allowing my other friend Betsy and I to meet him for a bit of dinner, a bit of adult beveragating (today is brought to you by Beer and the letter ‘Ow My Head’), and a lot of Let’s Be Best Friends Now But Not Let Todd In Our Clique.
Which is just what they did because they both can talk music. I mean Talk. Music.
But I remembered my lesson and was not bitter.
Not then.
Now now.
*sob
I should have know how this was going to turn out when I saw that hand smacking the table. I love that look and that hand-smack because I know how he talks and when he’s in his element. That’s when he smacks his hand on a table lol.
Not to be outdone, our Lady B can toe-to-toe with the best of them. They started talking about church and church music and the music industry in general. And if there are two people more saturated in singing, song writing, and the music industry (read Jeff worked back stage at the MTV Music awards, among others) (Remember the David Spade ‘And You AAAAAARRE…??’ Yeah. That was Jeff.), well…they certainly weren’t at our table.
Oh geez. Another hand wave. This meant Lady B was now in her element.
And this was her going into what we’ve come to call Serving The Song, which is our vernacular for the essence of music and getting out of your own way and letting a gift come through you.
And this is Jeff letting me know that I can stop being Loser With Camera.
Love it. I wish I could be there just listen to all of you…How much I’d learn from you three!
Sounds lovely. But I CANNOT believe that you did not acknowledge how you and wondefful-buddy-Jeff came to be friends in the first place ! I GAVE HIM TO YOU! (I’ve injured my arm patting myself on the back this hard, but could not pass it up).
I love you too. Marykay (and yes, I will acknowledge that Derek gave him to me in order for me to give him to you).
Frappé…we would have loved having you! And MK…fear not. Lady B asked us how we met and we told her the whole story, thanking you every step of the way :)
Marykay gave you Jeff and I gave you Betsy…that is what makes the world go round!
Jeff looks very stern in that last photo. I’ve never seen that side of Mr. Graves. Kinda scary.