I'm glad to be able to say that Dale is my oldest friend--undoubtedly counted as a member of the family by those in my family who know him. I think this depth of relationship engenders an honesty between us that is usually only seen between true siblings. We can go months without talking to each other and neither is concerned about the health of the friendship--or the esteem of the other person. We can yell and scream at each other, and yet still remain confident that there will be no hard feelings and all will be well again tomorrow. Dale is a person I look to for his endless optimism, I admire for his willingness to take risks that would make most people run and hide in the closet, and I enjoy being with for his joyful curiosity about the world and the people in it.