Where everybody knows your name

“NORRRM!!!”   Ahh Norm, Probably one of the most iconic names in American pop culture.  I remember ( in the late  80s and early 90s) waiting for the show with the now iconic theme song that would later guide my love of bars and casual conversation.   Sam, Rebecca, Woody, Frasier and Lilith (who guided my eventual elitism and love of Bebe Neuwirth ), and the timeless Cliff Clavin ( STILL LOVE THE JEPORDY EPISODE) were role models and a nice thing to watch right before bed (even when my mother thought I was asleep)   Even at eight, there was something familiar about Cheers… it was more than a greeting it was a place of comfort.  Where people accepted you for who you were despite culture or class.

Now I am thirty. I have experienced a tad bit more of life, and the lyrics make a little bit more sense.   I realize that, though the show now runs in syndication on Nick-at-Night… (along with many other favorites from my childhood… a fact that both delights and horrifies me)…, regardless of the antics, the rivalries, the crazy things said, the erudite posturing of certain group members… regardless of how much of a hermit one may want to be,   end the end we all share the human experience and as they say “making the way in the world today takes everything you got.”

I say all this because; I am just coming home from a night out with some friends.  Some of which I have not seen since school let out.  In all the ripping and running I have done in the last 4 or 5 weeks I have not taken the time to truly “get away” and enjoy their friendship.  There is unexplainable connection between true friends.  If you're lucky you get one, if you're are blessed you get a few, and if you are favored you have many.   I am not talking about the 1000+ friends that we may have on facebook  (even though I love all of them….::cough cough:: J ) but the few friends we have that we give facetime.

My "Cheers" is large… but my core group is tight.  Whether it’s a phone call from my dearest friend in Alaska (who I would take a bullet for), my twin at work (who always is my sounding board for my next crazy antic), my “lawyers” and my "PR/Marketing" consultant  (who would pick up the phone at 3am if I needed them),  my friends in NY ( who recently welcomed the newest addition into the group) my brothers and sisters in education ( who always lend a hand when I am chasing a student up and down the hall, in the case of one… screening phone calls), My phone pal in the SC ( who is generally awesome) or my best mate…to be said in a British accent… (who keeps me from burning down my house, electrocution, and dismemberment whenever I attempt a DIY project. Even though he does seem to enjoy it when I hit myself with a hammer J ). They are always there.  I love it we get together, I love it when we move beyond the virtual world of connectivity and truly connect not through Facebook but with Facetime.  When we are together… no matter how frequent or infrequent we are in a place where “everybody knows your name.”

Today, Friday June 24 at 6:00pm I will have a drink for you.Hopefully with some of you.  I encourage those readers who I don’t know, or know as well to have a drink for/with your friends as well. Cheers!