Some old friends of mine, Dylan & Rachael Perry from Australia, came to visit for a month. They’ve used Animation:Master in their production company, Momentum Animation Studios, for over a decade. They’ve visited before and it’s always been pleasant company. Every day they come out to Hash HQ to work on episodes of “Petey & Jaydee,” the indestructible aliens you can watch on your cell phone. Dylan has written and animated dozens of them over the years, (approaching 100!) His goal was to complete one episode every week he was here, (and he did).

On the weekends we went hiking. This time of year there’s a “harvest festival,” or a “concert in the park,” or “crafts fair,” or some similar end-of-summer activity every day. Dylan & Rachael embraced every activity, especially the hiking. Dylan’s quite a cook, so we had gourmet meals a couple of nights a week. Times were good.

In the evenings, Dylan & Rachael would use the Internet telephone program, Skype, to talk to their friends & relatives. It didn’t cost them any money and they could call all over the world. After one particularly long conversation, Dylan asked me, “Martin, Uh… I’ve invited a friend of mine to visit and… Er… Stay with us here… Uh… Is that alright?” I didn’t even hesitate, “Sure. The more the merrier.” Though I was curious concerning the situation, I didn’t ask any questions but Dylan filled me in.

Apparently, both Dylan & Rachael have known each other since Jr. High in Melbourne. Rachael had known their best friend, Dave, since grade school. He was in the computer networking business, (he had wired up Australia’s entry in the America’s cup). Dave had a longtime girlfriend and two children. Dave, it seems, had never been out of Australia before a couple weeks ago. Apparently, Dave arrived in Detroit badly jetlagged by the trip from Sydney, after which he immediately started work on a complicated and stressful job the same day. The combination of tremendous pressure, strange food, and foreign surroundings had prevented him from getting any sleep for almost a week. One day, his body reeling from the abuse, he collapsed. Waking up in the hospital, Dave was a “new man,” as he put it. He quit his job in Australia (though he did finish the gig in Detroit), and he flew to New York. He was “going to sleep on the street until he found a job in America because he was going to stay here.”
“What about your kids, Dave?” Rachael asked.
“I’ll get new kids,” Dave replied.
That’s when Dylan invited him to my house. “Thank god we’re here in America to help,” Dylan said.

Dave arrived late at night while I was asleep, then he crashed in one of our spare bedrooms and slept for several days. I’d never seen him but I knew he was upstairs.
No one else was in the house when I’d come home for lunch. I could hear footsteps on the circular stairs by my office. I looked around the corner and there was this tall, good-looking, bald-headed guy.
“Hi, I’m Dave,” he said with a big, toothy smile on his face. “Nice to meet you… It's my birthday: I'm 33.”

Dave was interested in starting his own business. He talked a-mile-a-minute, his big smile always right there in front. When Dylan & Rachael got home, he yakked their ears off too.
“What a happy guy?” I thought. “I’d like a friend like Dave.”
We went to concerts. We went to fairs. We went on hikes. We went to circus. We went to bars. Dave was so FUN to be with: girls loved him; people were attracted by his constant laughing; we always had crowds around us because Dave was a center of attention. I’m an active guy, but this Dave was wearing me out.

One morning while we were all drinking tea before heading into work, Dave came downstairs with his bag, new cowboy boots, new bandana, and new harmonica. “I’m going back to Sydney,” he announced. “I got my job back. I’m thinking about making an honest woman out of my kid’s mother, and we’re moving back to Melbourne.” Dave stood looking at us with his great big ever-present grin.
“When did you decide to do this?” asked Dylan.
“This morning,” said Dave. “My flight leaves in an hour. Can you give me a lift to the airport?”
“Sure can, Dave,” I said.
At the airport everyone hugged. Dave’s smile was as big as ever when he finally went into the terminal. We all stood there looking after him.
“That’s the happiest guy I’ve ever met,” I stated soberly. “No wonder he’s your friend.”
“Happy,” Dylan sniffed. “He used to be happy but he’s been a sourpuss for years now. I haven’t seen him like this since we were kids.”
I couldn’t believe it. I looked to Rachael for confirmation: she nodded.
“Well, Dylan,” I counseled. “If you have anymore friends going through a midlife crisis – just invite them over to my house anytime.”