bryan suddith dot com

I know. It is a country song. But a funny one.
Last week sucked. It is common knowledge. I had no idea you all cared. I figured it was time to crawl out of my funk when you all started asking wifey to hide my belts and lock the garage so I wasnt near any fatal chemicals. Thanks for the concern.
I remember now the last time I was in a funk like this. It was about two years ago. Maybe 2 and a half. My closest friends were leaving the church I belong to. The two men that I was able to call at any time for any reason. We were close. We talked. We shared.
One left for ministry reasons. Some church was falling apart and needed a really smart, really funny, really transparent pastor from WVA and my friend was the guy God called. My other friend decided it was time for a smaller church. He and his family had just moved a bit farther from our church and the time was right. It took some time but I was able to build new relationships and got over myself. Me and those two guys, we still chat a couple of times a year. Not as much as we should.

Just when I got over myself this week church happened. I love church. I love my church. (Church implies a community of believers and a couple of non believers…not a building). I love my friends there and love my role there. This past Sunday I was actually dressed in..ahem..well..a dress and wig. long long story.
So anyways. Two friends are moving this week. Two more stinking Air Force buddies. I gotta stop getting to know these cool Air Force types. All they do is show up in town being all cool with their awesome families and cool stories about flying huge planes all over the world. Some have stories from the Academy. Meeting presidents. Hanging out with astronauts. Not only that. But they are mature believers who challenge me. They have great wives that blend right in with wifey and her friends. They have cool kids too. Kids that my boys like to play with on Sundays. Or during picnics.
These Air Force guys are cool to hang with. I learn about all sorts of things. Weck being only one of them. Then it happens. Damned Air Force.
My friends get orders. In the last 6 months, orders have been given to my friends that sent them to Texas, St. Louis, Colorado Springs, the Pentago, Maui and Honolulu. Just like that. They are gone. What took 2-3 months to build is hit with a brick.
True. True. Yes I agree. Just because they move to HAWAII doesnt mean we cant still be friends. Yes. You are right. But I cant just see him each week during our standing reservation at BW’s. Wednesday nights at church. Cant meet for lunch at the spur of the moment. Cant call him when I like. Besides. We all know what happens when things like this occur. They move to someplace else, meet new church friends, get into the fold there.
I have been there. Wifey was active duty Air Force and we left our friends behind at Patrick AFB with the promise we would return to the old beach front base to see old friends. That was 4 and a half years ago and we havent been back.
So..to my pilot friends and doc who have orders to report someplace new next week..know this: I am a better man from knowing you all. You have challenged me and I have grown from it. You will be missed. I am lucky to call you friends. I sincerely hope we get to see you all in the next year. Texas. St. Louis. DC. Colorado. Hawaii. The Air Force has given me friends in each of these places.