Boys will be boys

For the first time in more than a year, I spent more than just a few minutes talking to one of my favorite people. He got married recently, and he's just now settling back into his old routine -- after the wedding, honeymoon, and holidays.

I completely adore my buddy. I met him more than a dozen years ago, when he first moved to Chicago from St. Louis, and liked him instantly. He had a lust for life … and girls, beer and sports -- exactly as I expected. He was (and is) also sweet, positive and genuine -- not at all what I expected from such a big, muscular kid. About 15 years my junior, I mentored him at work and was his confessor regarding adventures outside the office. It's been a joy to see the man he's become.

I could give you many examples of how thoughtful he is, but here's my favorite: About 5 years ago, I was hospitalized briefly for a painful but not serious malady of the feminine nature. After I was released, I had to stay in bed for a couple days. The pain meds messed up my vision and I couldn't read, I couldn't go online ... I was so bored! He called me from work and watched Cub games with me over the phone. That's my boy.

But this is also my boy -- he regaled me with tales of lap dances and strippers and hula girls at his Las Vegas bachelor party. He knows I'm not a prude and that I'll love him no matter what, but boy! I accept that this sort of thing goes on all the time and I'm not judging him, but it does startle me to hear.

He also told me how seriously he takes his role as stepfather to his bride's 7th grade son. He worries about classmates that have too much freedom and too little supervision after school. He told me how much more he appreciates his own parents today for the values they instilled in him, and how he hopes he can use their example as his lives up to his responsibility to his stepson.

I'm glad he's settled and happy. He's glad that now that his life is more routine again, we'll be able to see each other more often. I'm glad, too. I want to be around to watch this new chapter of his life unfold.