I have a very good friend named Heart Person; in fact, I’ve known this individual ever since I can remember. Heart Person goes everywhere with Heart Dog. Heart Person generally appears in my life when I’m most in need of him. Over the years, Heart Person has become increasingly more busy. For this reason, visits are a special occasion. I always drop what I’m doing when Heart Person puts in an appearance.

Heart Person, has, in recent years had heart problems, and a few years back had double-triple- quadruple bypass

heart surgery. This is the danger of being all heart. And this good soul has always taken everyone’s heart-related issues to heart. Heart Person claims since the surgery-related near-death experience to have slowed down some. However, I’m dubious. Heart Person will do what needs to be done until the day in which higher powers say, “It’s your time.”

Heart Person usually visits me on Valentine’s Day. I didn’t see him last year, nor the year before. I wasn’t even expecting a visit this year, for this is a very busy day of the year for one who centers their life around helping others.

I saw him and Heart Dog coming up the driveway at about 6 p.m., and ran over to greet them. I was having a bad day – everything seemed to be going wrong and wronger. We gave one another heart hugs. Heart Dog ran off to confer with Rainbow and Jenna, and Heart Person then asked me how it’s going.

“Terrible,” I said.

               “How could things be terrible on such a beautiful, snowy day?”

               “They just are.”

               “Hmmmm.”

               “Okay,” I snapped. Do you want an overview? I don’t care if you do or not. I’ll give you one.”

I then talked non-stop for half an hour or so, about how I was tired of winter, tired of snow, tired of snowmobiles racing up and down the road. I concluded my rant, saying “and all I wanted was to go for a quiet walk with Raudi and Signy.”

Heart Person listened intently to what I had to say. I finally grew quiet, in hopes that this wise sage would say something enlightening. However, no words came forth. It was then that I saw the situation from the perspective of my insightful friend. I have the world by the ovaries. I live in a place that’s relatively quiet, and relatively untrafficked. I have a partner who does way more than his share of the work. In fact, Pete had spent most of the day moving the freshly fallen snow. I helped some, but he did the bulk of the work. I can structure my work days the way I wish, and write what I want to write. How good is that?

A light bulb went off over my head, causing Heart Person to smile. I didn’t have to say what I was thinking because he knew. This is the way it works with good friends. Yes, our lives ARE what we make of them. As my life progressed, I made a series of conscious choices, which brought me here, to this place that Pete and I call Squalor Holler. In essence, I’ve created my own reality. And it’s a good one. Finally, I who had a question, broke the ongoing silence.

“Why do we humans often make bad of good?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Heart Person said.

“Well then, what do you know?” I asked.

“That I love you very much and feel great joy at the times when I’m in your presence.”

“Are you saying I think too much?” I asked.

“I’m not saying anything because I don’t pass judgment on people.”

“But you must be thinking something about me and my rant.”

“Nope.”

“Why don’t you stay here for a while and rest up?”

I would,” Heart Person said, “but I very need to catch up with others who like you, were hoping to see me today.”

With that, Heart Person called to Heart Dog, who’d been checking out the manure pile with Jenna and Rainbow. All three came over to our sides. I knew that Heart Dog had had a heart-to-heart with my dogs, because they were both more visibly relaxed.

I accompanied Heart Person and Heart Dog to the gate, and then watched, as owner and dog walked down the road, growing smaller physically, but larger mentally. I headed back up in the direction of the cabin and sought out Pete. I didn’t tell him that Heart Person had been here. Rather, I gave him a big hug and told him that I loved him.

Next: 70. 2/15/12: My Friend Hattie Schmidtkunz