Archie Kobain

Before moving on to this week’s topic, “Connections”.

I wanted to take a moment and address one comment that was recently sent my way.  I was told that, based on my political commentary of last week, it was difficult to place me. Someone asked how I could possibly be pro-choice and yet be “OK” with gay marriage.

Your ignorance astonishes me. Seriously… Have you stopped to think about this?  Those two aren’t even related.  One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.  It’s like asking, how could you like Pizza and yet be OK with having a cheeseburger (now and then).  The only way those topics are related is through either religion or through political association.  Well…  1) Aren’t we supposed to keep religion out of our lawmaking.  That’s what supports Freedom of Religion and makes our laws mostly acceptable to most religions.  2) I refuse to let the political party system affect the way I think.

“I’m an athiest. I swear to God.”
You see, I am for personal freedom.  That’s what this country was supposed to be all about. That’s why people came from Europe to the New World, to get away from dictatorships and live in a place where “We the People” ruled.  I will always support your personal freedom, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my personal freedom (or that of others).  You want to have an abortion?  Go for it.  You want to get married?  Why do I care?  Enuff said.

By the way, I’m not really an athiest. In general, believe in intelligent design.  But my religion is mine.  My religion doesn’t dictate that I should save others or get anyone else to see things my way…and it doesn’t skew my views on how we should be running our country.

Now, I’m done talking politics.
Although not before revealing my new thing…

OK, let’s get to this week’s topic: Connections

This week I’d like to raise a virtual glass to all the great connections that I’ve made in my life.  Although I have been blessed by many connections, I realize that true connections are rare.  Every once in a while, someone unexpectedly enters your life and you just seem to connect with them?  These are usually far and few between.  They just sort of happen.  Some of these connections last forvever.  Others, unfortunately, have a limited lifetime. 

Sometimes you connect with an artist through their music, someone you’ve never met before but that connection is still there.  I just recently connected to this artist, Christina Perri.  At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked her voice. Now I can’t stop listening to it, particularly this song…

Note: I think this song is better if you don’t watch the video.

In college, I made a great connection named Dana.  She was awesome, although tremendously quirky.  Dana loved tools, like wood working tools or mechanics tools.  Her sheets and pillow covers had to be satin.  Dana never attended weddings because too often they would take place in a church.  She didn’t like churches.  I once asked Dana if she was a witch.  She responded with, “why… are you a warlock?”

Dana planned to not marry.  In fact, when we last discussed it, she had planned to not have sex.  Her theory was that people should not get overly involved with each other… emotionally or physically.  She said that if you let a person take your mind, then they would take your body, and then your life.  She became very serious when she talked about these things.  Ironically, some time after telling me this, Dana settled down with a permanent boyfriend. Soon after, they married. Soon after, Dana passed away.

She was a fast machine
She kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman I had ever seen

Did I mention that Dana was a huge AC/DC fan?

Then there are my Amigos.  How long have we known each other?  It seems like just the other day, we decided that every two years we were going to get together for an Amigos trip.  And, even if every Amigo didn’t always make it, we’ve managed to keep our schedule.  By the way, the decision to have an Amigos trip every two years came after we’d known each other for over 15 years and, guess what?   That was (almost) 10 years ago!   Time absolutely flies and even though we don’t talk that often, I feel just as connected to you three as always.  I’m really looking forward to spending a few days together, later this year.

But I particularly want to raise that virtual glass to my private connections. Those who I have connected with and, at the end of the day, it’s just between us. Some of those connections are among the best.  You are what I call my F-POPs (Favorite People on the Planet).  This includes the people I talk to everyday, who make my life a little brighter.  This includes the people I’d like to talk to everyday but maybe it just isn’t in the cards these days.  This includes the people I never talk to, and maybe only see once (or twice) per year.  

This includes the people who know I love to sail, so they take me sailing…  🙂

This includes the people I used to talk to everyday and now I haven’t seen in a long time…but the connection is still there.  You now who you are.

At times I’ve connected with people and, for years, I was unable to figure out the friendship. But there’s always a purpose to the connection.  Sometimes it’s the connection itself.  Other times a connection is there, just to connect you to someone else.  

Everyone… Think about this.  Who are your best friends today?  How did you get to be best friends with those people, as opposed to the countless others with whom you only randomly associate?  This holds true for friendships, relationships, even music or your favorite artists, or your favorite bartender.  It’s all about making that connection.

Of course, there are connections that break or fade over time or distance.
(Hopefully never over politics… )  What can you do?

So to all those great connections out there, Past, Present & Future, let us raise that glass and throw one back together.  You are my peeps, you continue to shape my life, and I love you all.

May I recommend a…

Now, you should each, individually take a moment and acknowledge all of your connections.  Screw Facebook…  Pick up the phone, make a call!  Take a picture, have it professionally printed at Walgreen’s, and send it to a friend via the U.S. Mail with a handwritten note. 

Now you’re cooking with gas!

And that concludes our broadcast day, live from somewhere in the Atlantic.

Don’t worry. I’ll be back to me usual pointless banter soon enough.

Cheers

– Arch