Just a monent to remind everyone that if you are lucky enough to have a REAL friend.  A person who puts themselves aside in your time of need, take the time to tell them how much they mean to you.  Sounds gay? oh well, suck it up, these people are far more important than someone elses perception.

I am in a personal situation that got VERY, VERY ugly in the last week.  I can't say THANK YOU enough to Dirk for being my rock and the one who is keeping me grounded.  

Real friends show their true colors when the crap hits the fan, don't let their allegiance go unmentioned.

Sorry for the EMO thread but........some things have to be said.

Good thread. I have known my best friend for more than ten years. There have been many times he has stood up for me in those ten years, and that includes being the only one in a group of so called "friends" that didn't run when I was getting the $h!t kicked out of me.

True,or how bout the one who has re-bought me fishing tackle that I have lost and couldn't afford ;D

My real best friend lives in Ohio still and I have no idea whatsoever how to contact him. I got a new number and so did he :-[

Iknow what you mean LBH. I am fortunate enough to have 3 guys who if I were in a fox hole these are the 3 I would hope to be in with Steve,Mark and Gil. Gil has one drawback, he doesn't fish, we think it is somekind of genetic disorder. We have been through years and years of the ups and downs of lifes journeys, The weird thing is sometimes one of us is jammed up and the others just show up, on time and ready to go.

Just a few months ago I was visiting a hospital, one of my JobCorps Kids was in, on the way down and out the hosptal the elevator door opened and there was Mark, pushed me back in and said "WE gotta go upstairs" We go to the 5tth floor into a room and his daughter is in the bed and hands Mark his first grandson. Just to be there and see the gratitude and love on his face brought us both to tears. Then he tells the poor kid " This is your Uncle Dominick, if you are in a jam call him" and I lost it.

 This is a wonderful thread and it is a good thing to recognize Dirk, it shows your character, as these things frequently go unsaid between the fellas, WELL DONE RUSS!

I think it's great that you take the time to let Dirk know how important his friendship is to you. Friends like Dirk are not easy to find. I'm fortunate, I have my wife and three adult kids that are my support.

I hope everything turns out.

Falcon

Iknow what you mean LBH. I am fortunate enough to have 3 guys who if I were in a fox hole these are the 3 I would hope to be in with Steve,Mark and Gil. Gil has one drawback, he doesn't fish, we think it is somekind of genetic disorder. We have been through years and years of the ups and downs of lifes journeys, The weird thing is sometimes one of us is jammed up and the others  just show up, on time and ready to go.

 Just a few months ago I was visiting a hospital, one of my JobCorps Kids was in, on the way down and out the hosptal the elevator door opened and there was Mark, pushed me back in an=d said "WE gotta go upstairs" We go to the 5tth floor into a room and his daughter is in the bed and hands Mark his first grandson. Just to be there and see the gratitude and love on his face brought us both to tears. Then he tells the poor kid " This is your Uncle Dominick, if you are in a jam call him" and I lost it.

 This is a wonderful thread and it is a good thing to recognize Dirk, it shows your character, as these things frequently go unsaid between the fellas, WELL DONE RUSS!

Don't go thinking you aren't on my list "Uncle Dom"  I've used your # in the past and will most likely need it again someday.  But you have mine too

I understnd that, but I get mooked out once in a while, you know what I mean. We both call and depend on each other but locally and longevity it is good to have a Dirk around, and it is a good thing to take time and aknowledge him. This is now getting too Dr.Phil for me ;D

YOU BUNCH OF WUSSES!!!!

ummm can I have both y'alls numbers?    Heaven knows I am going to need some support over the next year LOL

great post

AL

Gil has one drawback, he doesn't fish, we think it is somekind of genetic disorder.

;D ;D ;D

 I do not know where I would be without my close friends. I moved from Atlanta about 5 years ago and still manage to stay close with my best friends. I would do anything I could for them and I know they would do the same. They have helped me through some really tough times and have shared some truley great moments.

Great thread Russ!  There's no need to apologize for being "emo" as you say.  Some men just can't let their guard down enough to be that way, much less shed emotional tears over something.  It's not a sign of weakness.  As a Christian, I have always related to the shortest verse in the Bible:  Jesus wept.  To me, there's no greater man than one who would give his life for another.

BTW, my best friend is my wife.  

Real friends know how to look past character flaws, imperfections, and idiosyncrasies that others would just as soon capitalize on or pick apart.  It's a lucky man (or woman) that has a real friend.

I like this thread, I am fortunate enough to have 1 person that I know I can count on for anything.  An example of this would be, 11 years ago I was told that I had testicular cancer and I would be needing surgery asap.  To say the least I was pretty scared, when I told my friend about my situation with out batting an eye he said to me if he could give me one of his he would.  That was pretty amazing if you ask me, for a guy to just offer one of jewels to another guy doesn't happen every day.  It showed me that he is one of the good ones and we continue to rely on each other even now.

Matt

Just so happens that today nine years ago I got flooded and took a pretty good beating money wise. I am so glad I didn't wait for the Government to show up because they never came. But what did show up was friends and one in particular who stayed with me for 68 days

helping me rebuild. My friend has to have surgery on the 30th of this month, I talked to him yesterday and he told me there was no need for me to come to the hospital because I am suppose to be in a tournament that week. I just hope he doesn't think for one minute that

I won't be by his side when they put him under. That's what friends are for.

Prayers for your friend bud.  Good luck.