A Tale of Two Friendships

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it 
was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. . . ."
 Such is the story of my life and the tale I would like to share with you today. 
I have these 2 friends. I met them just about a year apart almost 30 years ago.
They come from worlds as disparate as any could possibly be.
As they are both my friends, they have had occasion to meet each other.
They certainly know of each other and of my friendship with each of them.
The only connection to their distinctly different worlds is me.
There is today, a strange commonality for the 2 of them. 
They are both embarking on new lives.
My one friend had landed the job of a lifetime.
It fulfills his passions as well as hopefully his coffers. He has worked diligently building a foundation and a resume which has afforded him this opportunity.
He has earned it. He has worked hard to achieve this position. He will be hugely successful.
Similarly my other friend is starting anew as well. 
After a lifetime of more than just brush ups with the law, he finds himself at the doorway leading to an opportunity to lead what most would consider a normal life.
He is looking forward to getting a new job, finding a home and building the rest of his lifetime.
He has made his own way to this place in life. He has paid dearly for his choices and relishes the opportunity that is before him.
Last week both of my friends went shopping. They both bought a couple of new suits, albeit one at a nice men's store and the other at the local thrift shop.
They are both experiencing radical changes,for the better, in their lives.
These 2 individuals could not be further apart from each other yet their Journeys have taken each of them to the step off points for a new life.
The one thing they have in common?
They are both my friends.
As I write this, I can't begin to tell you just how much happiness I feel for both of them.
I look at where they are and the paths they are embarking upon and it warms my heart.
When I step back for a second, I find myself taking stock of my own life.
The first thing that comes to me is Harry Chapin's song Taxi.
While I drive a bus, not a cab,the story is not that far removed. 
One line keeps coming around for me:
"another man might have been angry and another man might have been hurt....."
Me?
I am neither.
 I am happy for the both of my friends and I am thankful for all that I have in my life......
including the bus I drive!