As you can tell from my recent posts, this week started out at a really low place for me. I am amazed at how the week turned out.

My friends--both old and squeaky new--rallied around me in a way that I don't think I have ever known before. I actually had to schedule some "me time" this week so I could get laundry done and chill out a bit.

My sister and her husband live a long way away in North Carolina. They both sent me just amazing emails since they couldn't be here for me. I miss them both and am really thankful for them. I am still working on responding to those emails.

The friend that I have known for the longest time (22 years!!!) spent all day Sunday with me. We haven't spent that much time together for many years. I treasure him. We went to breakfast, I showed him my new place and then we went back to his place and just talked and talked.  Some light, some heavy, all good. He knows my wife and yet knows me from long before I met her. He has good perspective on things and wise words. I need him.

Next a recent friend from contra dancing posted on facebook about Science on Tap. This is where real scientists present lectures in pubs around town for the public. This one was called  "Mutation, Evolution & Infectious Disease: Looking Forward and Looking Back: The never ending battle between host and virus." As she said, "if they use colon's twice in the title, its got to be good, right?" It was. So was talking with her after the lecture was over.

Next another contra friend made dinner for me and we got to talk for a long while. How to describe it... she gets me and isn't into me--exactly what I need right now. I also understand her. We even write the same way. I feel safe with her. 

On Thursday a couple of dear friends from work went out with me to a bar that we had never been to before. I am not a big bar hopper but it is always fun to go drinking with them--even when I only ever have 1 or 2 drinks. They also know my wife. They still care about her, but you could tell that they were indignant with her on my behalf.

Friday was contra dancing again. I got to talk more with the Science on Tap friend after the dance. I loved it. Nothing too heavy (and everything has seemed heavy lately) just light and fun and with other people. I even had to fend off an "admirer" (blush).

Last night I went to dinner and a concert with someone that I only met last week over coffee. She recommended a place named "Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack" and I had a band named Luce that I really wanted to see. She found out about the Chili Shack from a food network show and wanted to check it out. I found out about Luce from a friend who is a huge fan of theirs and lives in their home area (the Bay Area). Both of us highly recommend both finds. The Chili Verde on cheddar grits was tasty and spicy without being overwhelming. Luce played a fantastic show. I really like their recordings, but live they were incredible. You all need to check them out--they are too good to stay a San Fran only band. This friend is also really fun. She seems to have a huge list of places that she wants to check out and is just waiting for a chance to go exploring. So refreshing after so many "inward looking" years.

The wonderful thing about this week is the pure variety. When times are tough like this, I always worry about overloading the few contacts that I have had. I am so intense and the issues are so impossible to deal with. I am good enough at analysis that I can pick the best of a lot of bad choices. I am decisive enough that I can act on that choice. I am emotional enough that I will crucify myself for doing so. It is good to have so many of these people with so many viewpoints all giving me hugs and saying that they think I am doing the right thing.

While I long to talk about the weighty issues of my present circumstances, I also need to escape from them and to talk about something else, or even to just listen to good music with someone and not talk at all. I got all of that this week. I am so thankful for these 8 people.

I need more male friends. Contra is great for meeting women (not a bad thing by any measure) and I think that I eventually will be getting to know their social circles more. I have only ever really met people from work, school, or church. School and church are parts of my distant past. Work is more difficult. Most people there are much older than I am, and while friendly, they aren't what I am looking for. I am not sure really how to get going on this aspect.

I have also really appreciated "The Diary People" (as tequilaanddonuts'  mom calls the Open Salon readers). Your comments have encouraged me and sent not a few tears down my cheek (admittedly not a hard thing to do lately). I am sorry I didn't respond to some of your comments, but I know that you understand.

Thanks everyone.

 Charles