ON PRIDE

One of my close friends - I was the best man at his wedding, in fact - recently posted his high score on the "Buzz Lightyear" ride from Disney World on Facebook. I gently teased him, as it seems like an odd thing to be proud of.

Another close friend - I will be the best man at his wedding, in fact - told me that he had recently finished the "best precision parking job" of his life, as he pulled to within about one centimeter of the sign designating the spot reserved. I took a look at it and was suitably impressed, although I willingly admit it seems like an odd thing to be proud of.

[SYNCHRONICITY ALERT - When I was visiting friend #1, I parked in his garage, coming within a centimeter of the railing blocking off the stairwell to the house. I was so proud of this, I took a picture with my (now-defunct) phone. See how these things come together?]

I suppose we're all proud of different things for different reasons. My sweet spelling skills (and awesome alliterative abilities) may not matter much to others, but they're things I'm proud of. Heck, I'm happy that I can remember the phone numbers for girls who wouldn't go out with me in middle school, and that's (to be perfectly honest) a stupid thing to even remember, much less as a source of pride. So who am I to judge someone's score on the Buzz Lightyear ride, or someone's parking job?

We'll all take victories where we can get them, and celebrate them all. No matter how odd or insignificant these victories seem to other people.