Well, shit! It happened again. One thing that I’ve learned since joining this crew is that if I’m going to gain a foothold, I need to be sharper than the average cat. That’s why I check blogs so often and comment so rarely. I have to read the newest posts first before you guys get a hold of them and I can’t leave a decent comment because you all beat me to it.

Fly stole my topic today. Well, she didn’t really steal it because she didn’t know that I was going to write about it. I’ve been thinking since last night about what I’m going to write my guest post on and wouldn’t you believe that out of all the topics I could have chosen, I picked the one that Flygirl wrote about today? Sheesh. Well, I’m going to proceed as planned. I’ll just add to what she already said.

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It sounds silly, but I’ve come to rely on my blogger family. I’m not exaggerating. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning after I brush my teeth and take my morning piss is check your blogs. This usually proves to be a double-edged sword because sometimes I’m left in a good mood when your lives are looking up, while other times I find myself sharing the same pit of shit with you when you’re feeling down. It’s freakin’ crazy, but you know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world. I would rather be in that pit with you than for you to be there alone.

I discovered this “Blog” thing a few years ago. It started out as a way for me to blow off some steam and enlighten the world in the ways of the Marine Corps. My first post ever was in 2001. It was about how ridiculous the Marine commercials are with the whole ‘Dragon slaying’ bit and that it would be more accurate if they showed him fighting the dragon with a broom instead of a sword (since we spend so much time cleaning …. get it? Nevermind). Ha! I thought I was hot shit on a silver platter. That was a long time ago.

Fast forward four years and four blogs later and you’ll find a different man. I’m a different man because of months of intense reflection. Much of this reflection is because of our friend, the blog. This simple little web-based application has honestly changed my life and I can’t imagine living without it. I’ve met some people that have turned my life upside down. Boy have you guys changed me. You’ve changed me so much that I almost feel like I should change my name.

You’ve taught me so many lessons.

Because of you, I’ve learned how to care about others. Through your vivid depictions of your lives, I’ve learned that I’m not the only person out there. Seems like a no-brainer, but I never really thought about it. I actually had a ‘Eureka’ moment a few weeks ago – other people have problems too! I’m not the only one that is having a rough time. It wasn’t long after that before a second ‘Eureka’ moment hit me – instead of worrying about my problems all the time, what if I help others with theirs? What if I take part in their lives, you know, like a real friend?

I’m trying.

I’ve learned that life is a growing process. I’ve always thought, “When I grow up and stop being an immature little prick …” Because of you, I’ve learned that I’m never going to “grow up” because I’ll never be done growing. Do you realize that nearly every post you guys make teaches me something? Whether it’s another technique to simply be good to others or a poetically hidden roundhouse kick to the stomach to remind me that I don’t know shit, I’m always learning. I’m taking your greatest traits and making them my own.

I don’t think I have learned any greater lessons than from Rick, a man that I now call ‘friend’. I don’t want to sound like I’m fellating him, but he has become a mentor to me. He’s taught me one lesson after another. He taught me a lesson a few weeks ago that I never thought I was going to learn: how to be a sensitive man without coming across as a sissy. It IS possible to be a strong man while being sensitive to the needs of a woman. I never would have written about my love and my fears and my weaknesses before Rick showed me that it’s okay. I’ve added him to my list of mentors. He’s in good company with my mom and dad, Captain Ken Walden and that ideal Shane that I see in my mind’s eye. I study his words and his reactions. He is one hell of a man and I’m glad I know him.

Your comments on our interview called me wise. I hope you all understand that my answers to Rick’s questions were shaped by you. I took all of those little nuggets of wisdom that I’ve picked up from you over the past couple of months and I thought about them. I discarded the ones that I didn’t understand or didn’t agree with and polished the ones that I did. I incorporated the keepers into my everyday philosophy and wouldn’t you know it ….. they spilled out all over my screen as I answered his questions. It was amazing to see the new me at work. As I went over our interview, I read it as an outsider looking in. I imagined that it was somebody else saying those words. I hope this doesn’t sound too cocky, but I was impressed. I compared the me that I saw on that page with the me of yesteryear. Dudes and dames … they weren’t the same person. You have taught me well.

My point is that these blogs have become the most important tools in my life. This is far more than a hobby – it’s a lifestyle. The friends that I’ve made online are so much more important than the friends that I’ve made in “real life”. You guys have taken me by storm. Let me ask you a question. How does it make you feel to know that you have changed a man’s life? Think about that for a second. REALLY think about it…

Never doubt the impressions you’ve made on me.

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Thank you for indulging me, not only on this post, but throughout my journey. You have enhanced my life in so many ways. I love you guys and I am so thankful that I’ve found you. Peace …… friends.