FEEL GOOD FRIDAY: Our people.

By Dave Markwell

Last weekend, I saw some friends. I said goodbye-for-now to a couple of them as they head south for the winter.

This is always a bittersweet departure, but a fine reminder of our good times shared. With a few others, I sat at a high table at my favorite spot by the sea and drank beer in the sun and laughed with them. We listened to music and made inappropriate “art” out of pretzel pieces. We watched the water shine and change colors with the sky. This, too, was a fine reminder of the value of these people I have that make the smiles come easy and honest, and make the simplest of days special and beautiful. I feel lucky to have them.

Arriving home from work today, I was greeted by my daughter. She was happy. She’s moving into a new space that is better than her old one and she’s excited. I like her this way. I’m helping her move things, which remains my duty as a dad. And I don’t mind this. It comes with the title, I suppose, and “dad” is certainly the one I’m most grateful for. I can’t imagine not having it. It’s the best one I’ll ever get.

Sitting in my yellow chair on a sleepy weeknight, I consider these things. I think about my people near and far, and here and gone. I think about the love and the loss and things we never lose. Our people stand as the only sure things. The truest and best ones stay, even when gone, and make things better. We see them and feel seen. We feel better and love better and know life better. They are right answers. Even if a bit questionable. The math can get complicated sometimes, certainly with my crew, but it always adds up.

So, with my slippered feet warm and my tired eyes leaning towards my bedtime, I think about my people and I feel good and safe and sure that a few things are worthy of some certainty. Life may not give us many things to feel sure about, but our people exist as evidence that the world is a fine place and days in the sun with smiles by the sea are fine things. And, I’m sure of this.