Character

The dictionary suggests moral or ethical strength for this word.

My definition also contains these words: choice, duty, responsibility, caring, interest, ability and willingness. Not much difference, just more words.

My grandma and grandpa had character. Both are gone.

Only two people still alive, have displayed character to me.

One is a friend from youth. He has continued writing, communicating over the years even though I got hit by my ongoing illness syndrome, depression and all that entails.

TY Hal "Hall."

The other is my third ex. She has been my constant Internet companion for 10+ years. I would be completely lost without our daily emails, her calls.

Duty, above and beyond. Character.

TY Penny. TY TD.

TY both. You have been there for me when ALL family members and former friends threw me out, didn't care enough, betrayed implied commitments.

Thank you both.

The rest of you, former friends and family. Well, fuck all of you.

Character is earned and the rest of you failed me.

Interestingly, by any definition of character, the rest of you failed yourselves too. Worse, you probably tried to rationalize throwing me out of your lives but, having NO character, guess what? You just failed.

Blood is not thicker than water. Friends are NOT for life when one has no character.

Maybe this is why the catholic church is so popular. One does not need character, per se because some self-sanctified MALE in a funny costume can just grant absolution for virtually anything making the need for character completely unnecessary.

Guess what? That silly church is so very wrong on so very many levels.

I am grateful for my two people of character.

May the force be with them.