I am a lucky, lucky boy.

I have a friend. A very good friend. When I think about it, I haven't known this person all that long, in contrast to my life, in contrast to many of my other friendships. The effect my friend has on me is stunning. More than stunning.

I walked a couple miles around my apartment complex, about three laps around, and I was missing my friend. So I pretended that my friend was with me and I babbled incessantly, letting my stream of consciousness thoughts flow. My friend would listen, and nod, and listen. So I let my words run away.

I use different words to describe my relationship with my friend. Sometimes I'm content to say that we perfectly complement each other. Sometimes my friend is the yang to my yin. Sometimes we're puzzle pieces. Tonight, though, I knew that it was more than that.

My friend completes me. My friend is my mirror in so many ways, and helps me understand the other side of things, the side I don't feel. My friend gently pushes me to supercede my boundaries and I know it's safe to do so - because my friend will be on the other side, waiting. I'm thrilled not only by what I receive from their half, but what I can give from mine.

This is one of the best friends I have ever had. I am so privileged.

Thank you. You know who you are. And thank you for saying, when I actually for real connected with you, that you were missing me terribly, that you hoped it didn't creep me out but there was something going on tonight, somehow I was closer to you and reaching out, so you were hoping we could connect.

Yes, that was me, walking around my apartment complex, talking to you. Thank you for hearing me.

And my words are paper tigers...

Once upon a time, in the year 1994 and in the land of college, Our Heroine spent a summer living in LaGrange, Georgia, which is a tiny podunk town near the Georgia-Alabama border (but the cats are nice!). While in LaGrange, she needed a ride to a party in North Carolina, because her ride dashed up to Connecticut to be with her boyfriend. Trout said, 'Don't worry, metalface, I will find you a ride!'

Trout volunteered his two friends, Jost and Black_Dougal, to pick Our Heroine up in LaGrange and bring her to Raleigh-Durham. Jude thought idly, 'I wonder if the boys who pick me up will be cute?' She asked her trusty friend Byron if they were safe. He assured that they were, and that he wouldn't let her get in a car with people he didn't know personally.

The boys knocked on the door. Jude smiled. There was this totally cute boy with a sweet as honey, smoothly subtle Southern drawl at her front door! They sat in the living room, the three of them, to chat before the trip. Jost, the cutie, said, 'Is that a Claddaugh ring you're wearing? Let me see how you're wearing it.' Can you say, 'swoon?'

They began their trip, and Our Superman wanted this boy. Oh yes. She was determined to have this boy. She worked all of her crazy wiles, and they hooked up on and off all weekend, and it was great. She especially liked the part where she slept in one hotel bed, and Dougal in the other, and Jost was in the shower - where would he sleep? He picked the right place! Linger said, 'Midge, you take this boy back to my place right now. RIGHT NOW.' Yes ma'am.

Our dear girl was completely smitten with this boy, but she went back to New York and he stayed in Alabama and they hardly talked. And when they did, it was wistful. Then she got together with A., and Jost got a girlfriend. They saw each other a year later and DID. NOT. CHEAT. Though both admitted it was the first time either had considered cheating. But they were not those kinds of people. They're good people. They even had to change in the same room, when they ended up in the pool with their clothes on, but stayed back to back and didn't turn around. Ever.

Fast forward, 2001 - Jost and Our Heroine are still good friends, though they haven't seen each other since the summer of 1999, and then only briefly, when they were both on the Cape. They maintain sporadic contact. Today, Christina let our girl know that Jost had been dumped by his fiancee, and he was heartbroken. Crying. So sad.

The poor dear. Please keep him in your thoughts. He is very sensitive and sweet and this is very hard for him. Our Heroine put on her bright red cape, got him on the phone, and got him to laugh. A lot. Loudly.

The verdict? "You're terrific, honey. I really just needed some smurfiness today. Thank you."

I win. I make people smile. And that, my friends, is what life is about.

Preach it, Sister Ani.

Your bones have been my bedframe
And your flesh has been my pillow.

Both hands, I use both hands.
Don't close your eyes.
I am writing graffiti on your body
I am drawing the story of how hard we tried.

Me, at the moment. I think.

Open the door - walk in behind her
Draw back your bow - let it remind her
That no one's around - no need to fake it
She's not in love - how can she take it?
Give her the time - she'll know you mean it
Make up her mind - throw in her feelings
Open that door - have her jump through it
She fell in love - how could she do it?
Do you know - do you know
What you're missing, what you're missing will show
If you should try to kiss her
Do you know - do you know
What you're missing - what you're missing will show
If you should try to kiss her...
Crazies galore - you wouldn't do it
Seen it before - looks like you blew it
Do you know - do you know
What you're missing - what you're missing will show
If you should try to kiss her...
Do you know - do you know
What you're missing - what you're missing will show
If you should try to kiss her - goodbye...