1001 HB2U Ching!

Ching may be more than ten years younger than me (yes, I’m THAT old!), but she seems to understand me better than anyone. That’s why she’s my best friend. She isn’t afraid of telling me the truth, even if she knows it will be painful, because I prefer hearing the truth over sugar-coated lies anytime.

I found this out one day when I tried dyeing my hair. She was the only one of my friends to tell me I missed a spot on the back of my head. Everyone saw it, but no one said anything. The others thought I wouldn’t want to hear about it.

Today is Ching’s birthday. I remember the first time I met her. A buddy and I were running a weekend bus trip to Mammoth. While my buddy was checking people in, I was filling the coolers at the back of the bus when I saw this giant pillow coming down the aisle. Ching was carrying the pillow in front of her and planned to sleep on the ride up.

Some friends and I were chatting near the front of the bus as we were passing through Bishop. Ching introduced herself and joined in the conversation. She left her boyfriend (there have been many since .... I’ve lost track) asleep in the back. On the pillow, I assume.

We told her what we were planning for future trips. She just sighed, told us it wasn’t rocket science (funny, a few of them were Rockwell engineers), and pointed out the flaws in our plans. She hasn’t changed that way of thinking in the years I’ve known her. I guess that’s what I like about her.

Nowadays, she’s busy in the scrapbooking world. She even got me interested in it for a little while (I think I still have all the stuff), and all I have is an unfinished Jackson Hole album. Maybe I should do that as part of my therapy.

Wherever you are today, Happy Birthday, Ching!