I’ve said it before: I am richly blessed with some immensely deep friendships. Whether they live across town or across the globe, I am refreshed by their conversation, their brotherhood, and their embrace of our lives together. Our time together is never long enough and always too long in between.
Waylon and I met when we were teenagers. He had three dreams: to be a country music star, to sing with his mom at the Grand Ole Opry, and to become a fireman. At a church camp at Baylor University, we became fast friends. With his stellar voice and go-go-go-gone charisma, he was like gravity…people were just drawn his way. Every few years, our paths would cross and we’d end up spending hours catching up. Talking. Playing guitar and singing. Sometimes laughing at the cards we’d been dealt in life. Sometimes crying over it. Either way, we were a brotherhood of ragamuffins, bent on trying to find our place in the world.
A couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call from him. After his mother’s passing, and a crazy ride through Nashville and LA making movies and records, he’s landed ‘in the area’. We met yesterday over coffee for the first time in years… and the time was, again, all too short. I had the pleasure of introducing him to my boys and getting to relive some of our stories with Heather.
A wise man once told me, "Thomas….if you’re lucky enough to only have one or two true friends in life, you’ll get by just fine.." And after two decades of friendship, they just don’t come any more authentic than Waylon.
The road is oftentimes hard and long. And Waylon has already accomplished 2 of his 3 dreams.
Oh, and the fireman thing is still in reach, kid.

