I ran into an old friend...

... and co-worker, basketball teammate, high-energy, upbeat, all-around good dude. And a good dad. (I've noticed good dudes are often good dads, which isn't a simple statement to me; I try to be both and fail in as many ways as I don't fail.) But about this friend... I remember he sank a big three to win us a men's league title one season. Small victories, but they mean something; little inspirations, baby carrots; essential in the day-to-day. I remember this friend – we'll call him John, because that's his name – was a tireless, relentless, hard-nosed, blanket defender. Totally unafraid of collisions or injuries. I was never thrilled when he guarded me in pick-up ball; he often did; maybe he felt challenged trying to shut me down, and I felt complimented. Over the years, he came to work with busted fingers, limps, twisted ankles and knees, black-eyes and stitches from catching elbows ... and all of it from playin' ball the right way, the best way, every time, with total effort, confidence, like a fuckin' maniac (on defense for sure; and on offense he pushed the ball enough to give us a track meet during every bball game). Awesome. I hope M 'n' m run across people like this and learn from them. I have and I'm grateful. They're contagious, infectious. I have another bball friend named Jimmy. He's the same way. I've looked up to him for 30 years now. He's an animal, but a surgeon too, on the court. And a good dude and a good dad. Some people never stop; they never stop playing hard; they're inspired and fed by a kind of bottomless reservoir of spirit or energy. I digress... so I ran into John at the train and he complimented me for "putting myself out there." I appreciated it. He meant putting myself out there here. 'Out there here?' There's a reason I don't write for a living. He meant 'aboutmnm.' Here. That inspires me. Many of you have commented; I'm grateful. Of all the things I want for M 'n' m, maybe the most important is inspiration. Inspiration! Every day. Every single day!

On the train I saw a coffee mug that said "No coffee, no workee." Yep, 'fraid so. As in, 'afraid that's true for me lately.' But 'chemical inspiration' is a topic for another time. I mentioned this before: I asked the kids, "What do you think my favorite drug is?" Jeanette glared at me like I was advocating crack. The kids looked worried too. I said, "Coffee. It's coffee; whaddya think I was gonna say?" I intend to be clear with M 'n' m about this. Drugs are drugs. Some are worse than others but most of us medicate or use something. A few somethings, in fact. Advil PM, beer, espresso, melatonin, Skoal; guilty, and they all count in my book. So be aware and a little careful, M 'n' m, that's all. Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, over the counter pills; all legal but not symptom-free or totally safe if overused. Sorry, I sound like Nancy Reagan. Should I fry an egg? This is your brain on drugs. I'll never forget it. And 'Afternoon Specials,' remember those?