Some Day Our Paths May Lead Us Home

But until that day, I want to bring up the subject of friend visits. In early summer, Cory came to visit and there was this idea that the only way he was able to swing it was to be coming to help out with my attic insulation. I resisted at the time-both the sort of deception (though he really did help a great deal, it was not a situation in which I was in any particular need of help), and the waste of time in which we could have been hanging out and raising hell.

Now it appears Gibbs is heading to CF with a chainsaw for some backyard Forestry.

Is this what we've come to?

Consider this my official notice that I am pulling out of these "work contingent" friend visits. If someday (as the title states) our paths lead us home, and we reside in the same metro (and are able to get together whenever we please), that may change. But until then, life is too short. My current official/unofficial plan for friend visits would allow me an opportunity to visit Pat M, Pat G, and Cory L, each, every other year, with the option receiving them as visitors on the other years. There will be instances in which I incidentally get together with each of you as a result of your other visits to the Twin Cities, or my visits to Waterloo. Or times like, with Ingawanis last year or Escalante, when we all get together. But you can do the math--how many times will I see any one of you guys at that rate before I turn 50? 25 times, tops? Twice I have gone out to the East Coast and I feel Mixdorf has done it right--he graciously sets aside a few days and we have non-stop excitement the way it's meant to be. I would love to return the favor (having not ever hosted Mixdorf solo for more than an evening). Indeed, I would love to open my home and the wonders of Minnesota to each of you guys, and leave the home repairs for another weekend. I have no doubt that Gibbs & Cory will have a load of laughs and much good times during this upcoming visit, and I don't mean to be a total downer. In fact, you could almost say this visit is a little different, since there's this whole Forestry aspect that allows them to share a common interest from their past. But man, if they're going to spend more than just a few hours laboring back there, shame on them. A world of Illuminator, beer, hiking, and much much more awaits.