the value of friendship, a daily reminder

[dick benbow]

Last spring during the Matsunosuke seminar, I had an opportunity to meet lots of new koi people.

2 that I struck a friendship with , knew i had found a doutsu aka bekko that I had been looking for,and arrainged to surprise me with it as a gift.

It arrived today, full of vim and vinegar and is
zipping around the pond adding some new personality and class. It has befriended "Kimiko" my asagi female.

It's hard to put into words my appreciation for the kind act.....but as i contemplate life by the pond in my Japanese garden, I'm reminded of the special people who have contributed plants and now koi , and their generosity...... and how lucky I am to be reminded every day of their friendship. A very powerful message in today's society, where true friends can often be counted on one hand.

Thank-you Dan and Dinh. I'm indeed a very fortunate man to have you both as as a koi friends.....

[mitten]

A pic of the three freinds at the seminar, taken by the darling Ann, swiped from Dinh's post at the Shack.

[dick benbow]

thank-you Mickey

[mitten]

The pic is on my wall Dick. Along with two of Ann and one of Larry Gill. This is a people hobby.

[dick benbow]

your right.....people make the hobby what it is. Your wall pics have some pretty neat folks as a reminder of what is good with the hobby

[Steve Nguyen]

Dick,

Thank you for bringing up this recognition

for lack of better words, I think Dinh contributions to koi hobby is among the top notch. his dedication and generousity to koi hobby set higher standards for an individual contributions.

regards,

Steve

[dick benbow]

a study done by the Universitry of Michigan revealed that persons who regularly volunteer their time heighten their overall zest for living and increase their life expectancy...

stress researchers at the University of Illinois found that people who feel connected with others are more calm and less tense....

Giving can be distinquished in many forms...as an act of love...and remains to this day the only gift that multiplies when you give it away....or as they say in today's gargon "play it forward" ....

medical researchers are now finding scientific proof that giving of self to others is actually a form of receiving...

[s2chang]

Doitsu aka bekko? A very rare breed indeed! Somehow this fish looks like a goshiki with a lot of beni. Dick, you deserve to have good friends ... . stevec