The New Bob

I read somewhere that there are only so many types of people in the world and you spend your life encountering those same types in different shells. It is supposedly why so many people remind you of someone you used to know. I had a friend for several years - more than 10 - named Bob. We met while we were both in college and working at Pizza Hut, became friends, tried dating, and then went back to being friends. We remained friends for many years and stayed close until a couple years ago when life took us in different directions. I've missed Bob in a lot of ways since our friendship ended but I mostly think that's because I didn't have a replacement "Bob" to fall back on. That is until now!

The "New Bob" isn't really named "Bob" but he might as well be - they are two peas in a pod. The New Bob is so much like The Old Bob that it is uncanny. They have similar senses of humor, are quick-witted, can have intelligent conversations with many tangents, know of obscure television shows to turn me onto, have no fashion sense, and rarely leave the house if they can help it. But my favorite part of The New Bob is the same thing that kept me friends with The Old Bob for so long - he finds me hilarious. You see, I sometimes have trouble finding people to be around that are similar to me in that I look for the joke to crack, the witty turn of phrase that the occasion begs for, and often say it without thinking. Not everyone enjoys that aspect of my personality and few people actually do the same and vie to get their wise-ass comment out first. I love the competition of who is funnier. Because even if I don't win I still end up laughing. The New Bob is a fierce competitor too, which keeps me on my toes.

Don't get me wrong I have several witty friends- JJ and KC immediately come to mind. However, they are both female and whilst I thoroughly enjoy spending time with them they do not have a male's mind. Men, like Old Bob and New Bob, don't usually hold back when engaged in witty repartee. Sometimes that means something that clearly needs to be said to you is said - usually quite harshly but with enough wit that you still laugh but pause to examine the point. Men with this personality are also quick to point out when other men are lame. Which is a helpful thing to have in a friend.

I like The New Bob - he's a good addition to my social circle and makes the day at work go by very quickly and humorously. Makes me glad I took this new gig and got to meet a personality I'd been missing.