The Resolution of the New Year

Originally written December 30, 2009

Wherever our imagination and escapades take us from here on out, never will there be a year like the one we have just experienced together.

In these lasting moments together of 2009, before we begin that next great adventure of our lives, take solace in today and reflect on the amazing year this has been.

In a time of our lives where so much around us is beyond our control, yet affecting our lives without regard, we were there when it mattered the most. And on that day then, we made our stand together, faithful and sincere, to celebrate all the good that was to be had, and comfort those in times of need.

In an old church, we watched Salow, our rock if there ever was one, take Nicole as his bride, and celebrate a love that like the church had withstood all the tests of time.

We danced the night away by the seaside as Chip and Kate finally made official what we knew a decade ago; they belonged together, the perfect complement to each other’s own unique brand of crazy and delight.

And as Laura sashayed down that aisle with tears of joy apparent to all, we witnessed the classically stoic John with eyes just the same, and in a moment there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Las Vegas, where the chaos and disarray was fit for the likes of us as the Beef League made our inaugural venture to the desert a memorable one.

Playing tourist in Chicago with my beautiful imaginary friend, only to find out that Elodie was real all along.

Toto and the flute solo that shall be reserved for the best man for years to come, as Chip will amend the Beef League constitution to provide for this.

We welcomed our littlest friend Heidi into the Streiff/Beddinghaus family, and watched Brian set the bar high for the rest of us as he took that Papi mantle.

The endless forays into Fifa soccer one-upmanship and the ridiculous feeling of accomplishment that comes with blocking a penalty kick.

The surprising discovery that we are not all that bad at that entirely frustrating game of golf.

The Beef League parity making every Monday morning a lineup setting disaster in the making.

In the spring we came together to share in the revelry that was the Bulls and Blackhawks playoff runs. In the summertime we took our adventures to Milwaukee to race golf carts and watch race riots. In the fall we traveled the country over for the spectacular weddings.

We toasted our victories and all the dreams that shall come, cigars lit brightly with scotch in hand, standing at the top of the city on John’s balcony as fireworks trumpeted our arrival to the stage.

And all the times in between, where the moments defied all that was and what should never be, where we were there for each other, and together we rode out the storms until this morning dawn. In 2009 the Gang got an intervention, adulthood had come to pass and we met those moments with all the intensity and revelry that they had so deserved. There is nothing we cannot do.