Sacred Moments in Casual Clothes

True connection happens when we slow down long enough to appreciate funny moments, a waitress who comes to the rescue and even the gentle ribbing from a friend.

A photo of Shawn from 2009

Rereading the following memory from 2010 about my buddy Shawn reminded me how friendship often resides in the smallest exchanges. It wasn’t a milestone birthday or a profound conversation – just two friends at a restaurant, one daring the other to try something new.

Shawn passed away in 2022. When I remember him now, it's rarely the big events that surface first in my mind, but rather, these ordinary slices of life when we simply enjoyed being in each other’s company.

*****

“If you eat one of my wings,” Shawn said, “I’ll watch whatever movie you want.”

“They look weird, and I can’t imagine they’ll taste any better.”

“Just give it a try. Try something new.”

“I rarely like anything new.”

“Just try it.”

Buffalo Wild Wings had recently begun offering a dry rub on wings. It looked like someone rubbed red powder all over them, but the thought of Shawn being subject to any movie in my collection was too much of a temptation to pass up.

I reached over, picked up a wing and bit into it. Several things happened simultaneously.

First, some of the dry rub fell on my shirt. Dropping food on my shirt is nothing new. I have a reputation for doing it. But this time, it really wasn’t my fault. Is it even possible to keep powdered food from falling on your shirt?

Second, the dry rub was hot. I don’t do super hot food, so, with my mouth hanging open, I started whispering “Ha, ha, ha,” and no, I wasn't laughing, but Shawn was. I was low on Diet Coke, but thankfully, a waitress saved the day by bringing another one.

After Shawn called me a wuss – because we were tight like that – my right eye began to burn. Then it really began to burn. Somehow, the powder not only fell downward on my shirt, but in that one bite, it also drifted upward into my eye.

I had to work that night, covering a tennis event for a local magazine, and I envisioned walking into the auditorium with a red eye and having people wonder all sorts of things about me.

Not only had the new thing not been something I enjoyed but it actually burned my mouth and caused collateral damage to parts of the rest of my body. And that’s why I don’t try new things.

*****

As I look back now, I realize sacred moments often come when wearing casual clothes. In our hurried world, true connection happens when we slow down long enough to appreciate funny moments, a waitress who comes to the rescue and even the gentle ribbing from a friend.