Jack’s Winning Words 5/19/15
“I’ve learned that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.”  (Andy Rooney)  I miss Andy and his “5 minutes” at the end of the 60 Minutes TV program.  I’ve read that he didn’t have many close friends.  He said you just need one…to act goofy with.  I’ve got a few like that, and maybe you have, too.  I wonder if the Queen of England has a friend to act goofy with?  What does it mean to have a friend?    ;-)  Jack

 FROM CK IN MICHIGAN:  James Taylor knows!====JACK:  "You've Got a Friend!"  A great song!  In my mind I can hear J.T. singing it now.  I think I'll go to YouTube.====CK:  It is great. I also love sweet baby james! Enjoy pal!====JACK:  Another good one!

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  Maslow wrote that one of the characteristics of "self-actualization", which I simply call fulfillment, includes a perspective that is "free of the good opinion of others". In other words, a person who is not concerned when being himself or herself -- like the child who runs through the sprinkler naked without any concern for who might be watching. A friend is one whose relationship naturally exists on that same side of the coin.====JACK:  I'm  not goofy enough to run through the sprinkler for anyone.

FROM TARMART REV:  If I remember correctly, the Queen's goofy friend would be called a "court jester"? What does it mean to have a friend? -- Comfortable!!====JACK:  The Queen would really be acting goofy if she invited the jester to change places with her, and she acted as the jester. ====REV:  That would definitely something to see!?!?

FROM CS IN WISCONSIN:  A friend can be a relative(s) or a non family member who you feel comfortable with enough to show your good side and your not so good side and they still love/like you.  I pretty much tell people that with me - what you see is what you get.  I try to never put on airs or try to be better than anyone else because I want people to be comfortable around me, have fun, smile, be serious or cry if we have to, but in the end we have enjoyed our time together and look forward to the next time we will be together again.  Thanks, Jack, for being a long time friend! ====JACK:  Tell me again, what was it that attracted you to your husband?====CS:  That he knew how to be goofy.====JACK:  I thought so.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Seems to me, in the simplest sense, "having a friend" means having someone I can rely on for help from time to time.  Then there are "very dear friends", and I cherish the nature of the relationship with them, to share all sorts of information.  Such friends are special because they are the people with whom I can open my mind about serious matters, or act goofy, and trust in their discretion about the knowledge of it.  I have such an admirable friend, who emails me every morning Monday through Friday.====JACK:  Friends are those whose relationship is not defined by distance. 

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  I've kept Rooney's books that were in Bill's library. He was unique, and able to get his points across with humor and sarcasm....I can imagine he'd have been a challenge to live with!  My twin Jan was my 'goofy" friend, and we shared a lot of laughs!  I still have my BFF, another retired teacher.====JACK:  Who was the goofier, you or Jan?  Is it true that twins tend to think alike, beside look alike?====OAKS:  JAN WAS A LITTLE MORE UNINHIBITED, BUT SHE REALLY COULD ALMOST ALWAYS SEE THE  HUMOR IN ANY SITUATION; HELPED ME TO '"LIGHTEN UP"...I CARED MORE WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK!====JACK:  Was that because you were a Baptist pastor's wife and she a Lutheran pastor's wife?

FROM RJP IN NAPLES:  I pride myself on being that goofy friend. Humor is the best medicine.====JACK:  You've got a job waiting for you at Disneyworld, if the real estate business goes south.  You've got the talent and that look.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  The queen of England once "photo bombed" a visitor's photo.  She must have a funny bone herself.====JACK:  Did you know that the Queen's Guard has a woman member who tests the toilet before the Queen uses it?

FROM M LAWYER:  Loved your "friend" subject Winning Words this morning.  How's this for a comeback?
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.  His name was Kyle.  It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.' I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged
my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him... He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes  My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'
They really should get lives.  ' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!' There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.  Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! ' He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years,Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.    He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous!  Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.... ' Thanks,' he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began     ... 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends.... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.' I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.' I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. 'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'
====JACK:  It certainly makes the point.

FROM DP IN TURKEY:  I am in Turkey with my best friends....daughter, grand daughters, two sons with spouses,. We will celebrate a wedding together.  This is an amazing and beautiful country !====JACK:  Where's it written that best friends can't be family? 

FROM JACK TO BS IN ENGLAND:  On second thought.  Was today's WWs disrespectful?====BS:  Not at all!  I'm  sure that she does have a friend but I  know that she goofs around with her family. Angela was one of her royal protection  officers when she was in the police force and had some funny stories to tell about the antics that they would get up to.  She laughs a lot and her faith is what makes her the great leader she has been all these years.====JACK:  I wonder if the Queen ever watched Monty Python?

FROM SBP IN FLORIDA:  NNTR....All of the above demonstrate the full value of friendship.... especially in difficult times of the lives of others as well as us. Your question is a poignant one. It reminds me of the September Song (Don't know if that's the right name or punctuation,) But "the days dwindle down to a precious few"....and, at this age, "friends dwindle down to a precious few". What's helpful to me are memories and the "Constant" ..."What a Friend We Have.." ....and "He walks with me and....".====JACK:  Another song, "In the Garden," describes Mary's experience with Jesus after the resurrection..."and he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me that I am his own."  God, in creating Jesus, decided to show himself as a human being, so that we could better understand his will for us and his love for us.

FROM THE MAYOR:  Friends are people you can laugh with, cry with, pray with and just "be" with.====JACK:  Do you remember the saying..."To have a friend, you must be a friend?"  You are the epitome of that.