Old Friends

 

Old Friends

Cranky / Frog

This is not my first post on my friendship with Frog.  Today I saw something which illustrated our differences better than any thing I could ever explain. 

I have been friends with Frog since High School.  We were not close friends in High School, but we did have some history.  Frog was the only one who knew of my secret (two day only) talent of whistling through my nose.  We both snickered quietly as the stealth nose whistle baffled the notoriously disagreeable study hall monitor Mr. Barns.  Mostly we became friends when we both went to the same college.

Frog and I are not like two peas in a pod.  We do not go together like peas and corn.  We are not alike at all.

In High School, Frog was the Manager of the Football Team…I was Captain.  Even today I complain because that bastard would not give me a new pair of shoe laces. 

“Chriminentlies Frog, I was Captain for gosh sakes!”

“Coach said one pair per player.”

Frog got into our college because he was smart.  He had like 1500 on his boards.  I barely made over 1000 and have no idea how I was accepted.

Frog dated lots of young ladies in College and was somewhat successful on the base-path ..sort of... (if you get my drift).  Best I ever got was an intentional pass.

Maybe the only thing we have in common is wives.  I’ve had three, Frog has had three, though in all fairness, one should not count…long story.

Somehow, we have always remained friends.  Frog actually has about a zillion friends, I have maybe six on a good day, but Frog is the only one who would get up in the middle of the night and drive a few hours if I needed help with something…I think, maybe, well for sure no one else would.  I would do the same for Frog…I think, maybe…probably.

Lately we do have one thing in common, Guitar.  We are both trying to play guitar and occasionally try to play together.  This is difficult as Frog was once an engineering student and he believes in counting.  I believe in slamming those chords as the mood strikes me.

After his attempt at engineering, Frog decided his real love was history.  He got his Masters and was one dissertation away from being Doctor Frog.  I believe a woman distracted him from that dissertation so the world never saw a Dr. Frog.

Anyway.

Today I visited Frog to attempt to play a few musical pieces together and perhaps actually start and end a song strum for strum.

It was during this visit that I saw something that completely sums up our differences and puts an accent on the improbability of our friendship.

You can learn a lot about a person from his bathroom reading material.

Here is what you find in my guest bathroom:

WEIRD NJ

A compilation of weird stories and sights of the great state of New Jersey.

 

Here is what I found in Frog’s guest bathroom:

The Constitution of the United States and selected writings of the founding fathers.

Who the Hell reads that shit?  Especially while they are, you know...

Frog does.

I may have to reconsider this friendship.