is a failure to communicate.

Having spent some time operating an ad agency, I have some kind of clue how to communicate effectively, but I have also always relied on the recipients of my communication being capable of reason. The older I get the more I realize that’s just not commonly true. There are, for instance, a whole lot of people who have a whole lot of ideas about who and what I am, and in the main, they couldn’t be further from the truth, and while I used to try to explain to them, it has dawned on me that most of them treasure their misconceptions more than they value the truth. And that’s sad, that people out there have that kind of damage.

This is why it is that much more important that there are people out there I really do care for that really do get it. A lot of them are visitors here, some of which I have never met in meatspace. And I don’t have to be surrounded by them, it’s enough for me to know that they are out there, and I send my thoughts and prayers (and occasionaly, a check) to them when i cna.

Never forget to appraise your friends of how much you value them. You don’t have to be a huggy touchy feely type to do so, but just let them know.