Beach Patrol

So there is this group of us. Conner who builds stuff for a living. Hugh who keeps the lights on for the state of Florida. Joe who heals people in emergency rooms. And me. Many years ago we all met on boat in St. Martin and it was instant friendship. We would all park beside one another on the beach and talk multiple walks up and down Orient. Soon we were dubbed the Beach Patrol.

People have given us shirts and hats that say Beach Patrol.

Over the years, there have been changes to us. Joe dropped out but Jacob from Norway lobbied hard to get in and after sponsoring a terrific alternative wine and cheese party to protest the real wine and cheese party, we let him in.

The gender barrier was broken last year by Denise who proudly wears her hat as we walk down the beach doing moisture checks to ensure that everyone is staying hydrated in the heat.

The three original members make use of technology and travel opportunities to remain in touch throughout the year always planning for new and exciting Beach Patrol opportunities.

All of that to say, a large part of life is about your friends and I have been blessed with many. At home there is the Breakfast Club family, Johnny O and O Johnny and Judy and Judy and Trolley Joe and Roma and Jenny and Shirley and on and on and on. At work there is another collection of friends who guide me through bad times and good times like Jerry, John, Philip, Herb and others. And across the country there is Bill, Jim, Terry, Valarie, Suzanne, and on and on and on again.

What I have noticed is that more often than not, friends make one another laugh. Regardless of how good things may be or how horribly rotten they can be, friends somehow find laughter in it that gets you through.

So as 2010 gets going, I start with a toast to the Beach Patrol and to all of my friends who are always making it funnier than it would have been without them!