I use this painting as my desktop background. I happened on it just after the death of my friend Allen Victor Kreger. "Kreger" and I met at Frederick College at a bull session in which he, the College Atheist and I, the College religious Freak were supposed to verbally fight it out in front of 40+ guys in a small dormitory room. We tried to fight, but in the end I agreed with him on all points and he agreed with me on all points save that in the end, the same points ended for me as a theist and him as an a-theist. Over the coming years we became best friends and communicated often. As we "mellowed" over the years I think the question of theist/atheist became a treasure we often joked about. He was a holy man. May he rest in Peace.But this painting also reminds me of all the friends I had growing up in Suffolk-- Jim G., Ben T., George M., John M., Frank M., Lew W., Skid G., Sue P., Gloria F., Barbara and Judy O., Tommy W., Lonnie B., James G. , hanging out, looking to the future, looking into the past. Somehow, for me today, it is all one. God bless you all who have been a part of my life and so made me who I am. Joel
