Broomball has always been an equalizer sport. Unless you play on a club level or a national level like my friend Paul Thyren, most of us play broomball for fun.

Fun racing around on slippery hockey rink with street shoes or boots wielding awkward brooms; then in a moment of hope you swing the broom hoping to connect with the ball and send it into the opposition’s goal.

Broomball Buddies

Broomball is a great sport to enjoy wintery fun with friends. Here from the winter of 1996 is my dear friend the late Adam Bieringer. Adam passed away in April of 2010 much too young.

Synched together with rope I approached the rock.

I called out “On Belay?” I received the reply “Belay On”. I responded “Climbing”. Followed by “Climb On.”

My friend David Villringer learned to rock climb.  David’s courage and determination were both admirable and seemingly unreachable.  Graciously and patiently Dave taught me to climb.

David climbed the Tetons.  I struggled at Devil’s Rock.

I lacked both David’s strength and his will.

I wanted to climb, and I wanted to succeed, but I wanted NOT to get hurt far more.

Discomfort & Disappointment

My Top 5 values are Family, Friendship, Love, and Religious Beliefs, with Security edging out Peace and Self-Respect for the fifth spot, but sometimes I screw that up.

Several people I’ve talked to this week told me about their attitude toward parents, relatives, siblings and fellow customers in stores.

Did you want to be loving and blow it?

Did you want to be caring and seemed crabby?

Did you plan to not be a Black Friday freak, but you freaked out anyway?

There’s hope!

Ten years after I wanted to meet him, finally I walked up to 98 year old “Alex” and introduced myself. I wish I wasn’t so … fear-filled.

Curiously I googled “I hate Halloween”.  About 255,000 results.

There is a Facebook page “I Hate Halloween” and “3,701 like this”.

I have met many people who love Halloween, and people who hate Halloween.

One blogger ranted, “It’s not even a holiday, it’s a faux holiday. A Fauxliday.  It’s nothing more than a chance for Wal-Mart and Target to sell more cheap Chinese-made crap that no one needs, and a chance for Big Sugar to rake in big profits on cheap sweets none of us need. As usual, some Christians have responded in a predictably hilarious fashion, while others see it as a chance to engage in a little advertising for Jesus.”

I’m behind a day because I’m thinking through the topic of “Bold Love”. The notion of “caring enough to confront” is not a new one, I just want to handle it wisely.

Mortal Kombat, the classic video game introduced ‘Fatalities’.1  A fatality is usually a lethal final move that defeats a foe. Fatalities were often cruel and unusual means of exterminating an opponent.

Sound familiar?

Ever felt like a former best friend finished you off with a fatality? Ever sat in a lunchroom watching with morbid curiosity as people who used to be lovers are now involved in a death match? Ever squared off with your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse wondering if this was the end?

My hope is that after reading this you will no longer choose to use your fatality moves.

Yesterday I asked you to think back to your childhood views of marriage.

Do you have the same view of marriage when you were a kid, or has it changed?
Happily ever after is what I hoped for.  Maybe you did too.
Has your view changed?  Mine has.

I watched and learned from my parents. They shared hopes, dreams, hobbies and dramas. When my best friends’ parents divorced, I was so confused.  They seemed to love one another. It’s easy to feel disillusioned when all around you is heartache and heart-break.

Reminder – Yesterday, I offered some tips about “happy friendships” you can find them here.

I’ve spent most of my adult life studying women — insert your joke here.  I’ve read books about femininity, anatomy and physiology, female health, historical Western women values, feminism, menstruation, and mood swings.  In fact, I’m reading a book right now by a woman for teen girls about teen guys. I’m reading it to understand how women view men.

In doing so, I have gained an incredible and valuable understanding that, frankly, many men don’t have.  

Hints For a Happy Friendship 1

Make friends even if you don’t think you need them.
Seek out quiet people. They have a lot to say, if you say something first.
Don’t establish a friendship based on mutual dislikes.
Call if you’re running late.
Look people in the eye when you talk to them.
Be one who says positive things about others.
Learn to tell a good story.
Ask other people about themselves.
Be happy for others in their good fortune.
Make sure your caring includes doing.
Know when to say good-bye.