"How are you?"

When I was in high school there were four of us who always celebrated our birthdays together. We were legends in party throwing, although at 37 I wish we had been legends in straight A's, live and learn I guess. Anyway, I had an invitatation tonight to one of those said friends parties, and since we always celebrated together I decided to go. There was much debate about venturing away from the house, but Ginger was going, and well I decided I had to venture out. I have mentioned before that Ginger is my oldest friend, so I convinced Mike we had to make an effort. I spent some time getting ready, and I actually felt really pretty tonight, and that is good for the soul. So we all met up, and we chatted for a bit. Then my friend who was having the birthday walked up, and knowing he is going through an unplanned divorce I said, "So how are you?". AM I KIDDING? Did those words ACTUALLY just come out of my mouth, sigh! So I replied before he did, "Honestly I cannot believe I just said that.........how are you?, really, how do I expect you to be". He laughed, and said "Well okay considering, but better than you would think", and then we had a good laugh. I said, " I get that all the time............How are you?, it's a filler for conversation I think."

To top that off my friend walked up who just lost his wife, in a very tragic circumstance. TELL ME the words "how are you" did not escape my lips again? Oh GOOD Lord they did!!! SOMEONE SHOOT ME! I just sighed again, and said "I am sorry, I know what it's like to always be asked, how are you". He was so nice, and just said "You know if people don't ask it offends me, so it's like they are da%%% if they do and da%%% if they don't" I just laughed and replied "so true, now when I am asked how we are, I just reply the truth". He made a big gesture and said "AWKWARD, do they run away in terror?" I just laughed and shook my head yes. He then said "Well I just reply, I am great I puke butterflies, and sh%% rainbows, so things are great". Leave it to an old friend that could rank as a current stranger to show me the proper way to look at life with laughter, and humor. He has been through so much, but could still offer a laugh to an old friend. It was very appreciated. I told him I was stealing his line about pooping rainbows, that might be better than telling the full truth.

It was nice to see old friends, and yes to someone there I probably do spend to much on social network sites, but you know what? I enjoy it and it makes me happy, and that is what counts :). Jude stayed with his grandma's, and we were there to pick him up by 10:15, and he was wanting his mommy. We took him home, and had a nice rest of the evening just relaxing watching Saturday Night Live, it was a nice night.