I’ve counted my friends and I am fortunate.  Blessed

by life with true relations.  In trouble, through gaps

in time, over distance and under-maintained.  I’m

still lucky.  To’ve known life and to experience

friendship.  True friendship – beyond infatuation,

beyond duty’s bond and loyalty’s clasp, beyond

life-joined unity.  Upon the rocks at the true

depths, the limits of human tolerance, I have

been stood by.  And I am the richer for it.  My

great ambition.  My great drive.  Is to be a man

who would in turn stand, given opportunity,

and experience the full spectrum: the rainbow.