Bowling Alone or . . .
. . . You've Got to Have Friends You had to be careful not to get your necktie stuck in the ball return Ah, the Dog Days of summer. These hot (smoke-filled) days are a great time to ponder the mysteries of life. For instance, “How come my spouse (and let’s face it, usually the wife) cranks up the thermostat to 76 on cold winter days but complains that’s too warm on hot summer days?” or “Why is it that the more golf I play the worse I get?” Never mind, those are imponderable. Easier perhaps, we could also ponder this: What in the wide world of sports has happened to us. What? Oh no, I don’t mean That, not the present sad state of affairs with our government. No, l et’s ponder this instead (sorry, more statistics): a 2024 survey found that only 27% of American men reported having six or more close friends, compared to 55% in 1990. Women, especially younger women, also have fewer close friends - although more than men. Experts call it the “friendship recessi...