When strangers become friends...
When strangers become friends, you know you're doing something right. With this newsletter, I have made so many friends all over the world. For me, as a professional outlier, it is tremendously rewarding.
Some of you buy me and my two cats coffees which give me both support and encouragement. I reply to every one who does this with a personal note. And some of you I've gotten to know very well.
Friendship is important.
It is more than just going for beer after work with a coworker you may or may not actually like. Or telling jokes at a cocktail party, trying to get laid. In its finest form, friendship is seeing through another's eyes. Experiencing another person's world. Feeling their feelings as your own. These flashes or glimpses of another's soul are the basis of community.
Recently, one of my oldest and best friends for almost half a century many years, William John Riopel, passed away. Bill volunteered for service in Vietnam, came to Asia, fought, was wounded and never went home, living in Japan and later in Thailand where he married and adopted a daughter. He learned about war the hard way. I honor him for his good heart and honesty and spirit. He was once a stranger, like many of you. Then a friend.
Friendship begins always with small things, small kindnesses, good will.
So— many thanks to all of you who help me on this newsletter with contributions – coffees, notes, and comments—insights.
Special thanks to those who write comments and catch my numerous mistakes. Ismaele, for example, who regularly advises me of typos and broken links and things I have to fix— as in my most recent article Hamas 4.0-- which I updated (twice) following his observations. Also, to Occupy Schagen (https://twitter.com/OccupySchagen) and his many communications from which I have learned so much. There are so many.
My friend Mark, who was David Bowie’s drummer and song writer gave me this song to which I added visuals for my website (www.ageingyoung.com) and book. Maybe it says it all.
Julian
I read an essay long ago about how streaming services mean we no longer have the anticipation of next weeks episode of TV series. The bonding over the water cooler by discussing last nights episode, and looking forwRd to next week. BUT NOW there is Substack and when a new piece from Julian drops in my email, all those feelings of happy anticipation awaken. I cant wait for my evening cuppa and to read the piece. Like a letter from a friend.
You wrote a beautiful post and the song is beautiful too. The song is appropriate for us. However, I do a lot of thinking.
I was hoping for a photo of Mark with David Bowie. Ever since I first heard Ziggy Stardust I loved Bowie. I finally saw them live on the Station to Station tour.
I'm happy to have you as a friend. I tried buy you a coffee for your Gaza post which was very educational. My card was declined again, fukin bank! I'm sick of that bullshit.