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Friday’s fish fry or why good friends are like comfortable boots
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Have you ever connected the comfort of your footwear to the comfort of your friendships? If you are like me, these revelations occur during what feels like irrelevant moments. This one took place while sipping tap beer in a clear plastic cup at an East St. Paul corner bar while filling out prayer cards to Prophet Peter Popoff. The prophet says my prayers will be answered and my curses lifted as soon as I obey God and pay my seed money of $200. I didn't write a check or promise money but I did ask for a pretty Angel pin. I'll keep you posted on the California prophet and his pin..jpg)
But, let’s get back to shoes. If you are like me, you have a variety of footwear; shoes, boots, sandals, slippers, and more boots scattered about in boxes, closets and rooms around the house. You have those shoes tattered from miles of scampering about town, twenty-year old cowboy boots perfectly worn and resoled at least four times, you have shoes dedicated to a the once-a-year holiday or Christmas party, wedding shoes, work shoes, play shoes, garden shoes. You have boots for kicking, shoveling, dancing. And, you have those special occasion never-yet-worn shoes tucked away in the original box at the top of the closet waiting for the moment they might just work with the outfit not yet purchased.
And, if you are like me you have friendships and acquaintances that can fit each of those shoes - some worn often, some worn weekly, and some worn once a month and those once a year “see you at the Christmas party we need to have lunch soon” relationships.
I realized sipping my Leinie in that plastic cup tonight that my friendships can be represented through my footwear collection. Tonight, I spent the evening frolicking in unknown territory, laughing, drinking, eating and not worrying. Sanguine and proud in boots that have never been polished, in Levi’s that should have been washed three wears ago and a laugh strident enough to wake those resting in the nearby funeral home, I was contented and relaxed.
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These boots, this friend, and our last two Friday’s have been spent seeking Friday night fish fries at establishments neither of us have been to before. We succeeded in our quest. Last week we stood in a curling line with our Styrofoam plates waiting to pile on beer battered fish at the buffet at the VFW in South Saint Paul. Our latest triumph found in the basement of the Polish-American Club in East St. Paul. A Boy Scout troop served and attended to the dozens of neighborhood families enjoying the all-you-can for 8-bucks fried or baked fish, baked beans, coleslaw, white bread and iceburg lettuce. Behind the 1928 era bar, a bald smiling working-class guy sold us our Polish beers for $3 dollars a bottle. When we eyed a special beer in the cooler and asked to purchase it, our bartender’s eyes twinkled and said “it’s already sold to the cook.”.jpg)
So we sipped our Polish beer, I danced with a young boy scout as a country song played on the jukebox and we watched everyday families with their everyday shoes enjoying the first fish fry of the season at this social club. As we departed and readied for our next adventure that led us to the bar where we wrote the Prophet Peter Popoff, I noticed how comfortable I was with my friend, my boots and the night that came without glitter or gold but was beyond measure, priceless..jpg)
We have shoes for different occasions and if we are lucky, we have at least one friend for all occasions.
Try this: Take five random pair of shoes or boots and match each with a friend you would be most comfortable with while wearing out on a Friday night.
P.s. The Prophet promised me "supernatural wealth" if I obeyed God. Just moments ago I received this email "You won £750,000. Please acknowledge the receipt of this mail with the details below to Mr. Micchael Williams Name Address Age Sex Occupation."
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