Life Is Uncertain, Eat Dessert First Yeah,its one of those saying that you've probably heard a hundred times, but it's true. Stop and think about it and you can see the logic and the wisdom in the statement. You have to live life with as much gusto as you can tolerate without going overboard. I'm not talking about going on a shopping spree or writing hot checks or anything like that. Follow the Rede, The 12 Steps, the Holy Qur'an, the Holy Bible, as long as you don't intentionally harm another. But, and this is the big BUT, don't forget that you too, are SOMEONE. Don't harm yourself by allowing another soul to harm you. Eat your dessert first, just make sure that you feed your soul as well; your own beliefs and values feed your soul. You are SOMEONE. You are important and so are the beliefs that sustain your soul. Remember D'Artagnan. Be true to yourself, but don't harm yourself in the process. I've a former friend? new enemy? I don't know what to call him, so I guess I'll call him a brother. So I have this brother . . . I knew already that he was a braggart; that he had lied to me many times about smaill issues, so I knew he wasn't trustworthy, but I accepted him as he is, warts and all, that's the dessert, I enjoyed the good times. I didn't deny myself the joy of his companionship even though I knew his warts came out in full force at times. I really enjoyed the time we spent together. Fortunately our friendship lasted as long as it did. Tonight, however, was the uncertainty. Tonight he insulted my family and honor. Tonight, I returned the gifts he had given, because I couldn't retain a gift given in trust when he now considered my family and I untrustable. I hated having to return those gifts, but I had to remain true to myself. Another of those uncertainties, hence the importance of eating dessert first. 23:42 2/2/2006