City of Legends

Today I slipped over to Facebook and found myself startled.

I startle easily, but I also startle well…think of old Tex Avery cartoons and you get the idea.

There, in the right column was a list of upcoming birthdays from my friends.

Okay, two of my friends have the same birthday, tomorrow, January 13. So? Not like that doesn’t happen. In fact, my older brother Robert? His firstborn, Crystal, was born on his birthday. Now that’s a neat trick. But, I digress.

The two friends are Janet Innes and Claiborne Schley-Walsh. Those of you who know me well would find that interesting, twice over. First ,because I did not know the birthdays of two of my closest and most beloved friends on the planet after all these years, but also because they occupy such similar roles in my life. Come to think of it, I think I met them both for the first time within a few months’ span.

Both live a good distance from me and I never get enough time to keep in touch with them. So far, not such a big deal, huh?

Now for the meat, part one: Jan Innes was editor for several of my books. "Claibie" organized the two Southern Poets Reading Tours I read with. Getting better huh?

Part two, anyone? I met them both through the AOL Writers Club, and both championed specific women I met through there as relationships for me: Jan kept me from walking away God knows how many times when "the Panther" was up to her roller coaster emotional roller coaster, and Claibie all but shoved me through the door in my getting closer with Karla Frances Sasser, the Mad Gypsy. Of course Claibie also placed two hands firmly on my back and applied pressure for me to take the possibility of a relationship with a much younger woman, Ann (who ended up being my second ex-wife). I don’t think Jan ever tried a second pass at matchmaking for me.

They are both fantastic ladies who I have nothing to say but glory and praise and I am delighted they are still in my sphere of contacts. My life is better for their having been in it.

Happy Birthday, Jan and Claibie…and here’s to the comet that must have passed over the world that most auspicious day!