TMP - The Moments Are Precious...and Prepostorous.

It's the place, it's the people, it's a combination and culmination of minutes, hours, days....and years? Moments laced together with laughter, love, tears, and travels to places reached through innuendo, questionable thoughts, and silliness.

Silliness?

Just one word. Spelled incorrectly. Yes, I wanted to spell it with a "Y". Who thought writing could be a deep dive into Webster's Dictionary.

"I digress. Distraction. A common thing with all things me. Righting the sails. Back on track."

Years ago, I was comfortably settled in my usual spot. Hiding from normal, my normal. Safely on the outside, alone. But then, dammit, an invitation - and from people I didn't know. I declined. What would I say? Good god, the only real conversations I'd had lately were happening inside my head. What if they didn't like me?

Who was I to interrupt what appeared to be a group of longtime friends?

I said no, they gently persisted - and gently persisted. Maybe it was divine intervention. I crossed the last three feet between the end of the bar and their table.

I didn't know it then, but those three feet were the start of a journey. One measured in laughter, questionnable conversations, and stories that should only be shared in hushed voices.

So many stories to tell.

Because they all count.