The Friend Who Called Me Warrior
As I was worrying about something in my 20'ish year old mind, you told me I was a Warrior, not a worrier. I think we were eating ice cream from a business that had taken up rent in one of those new developments. It felt like an in-between kind of location, but we made it our destination of a hangout that night. The place doesn’t matter too much.
You don’t hold grudges. I admire that.
You have the longest arms I have seen in proportion to a body. Swimmer. Makes sense. I think we were on the swim team for a second in high school together.
You gave me a swim lesson a couple times. I watch. I see you watching the task at hand. One of those quiet moments of gratitude where I realized I really didn’t need to be anything else than who I was in that moment. I could just be myself.
You’re allergic to metal, even your braces when we were in high school.
I think I introduced you to radishes.
You bought me paper towels for my birthday one year. Lame. You were so surprised I didn’t use them.
One time I locked my keys in my car and you drove me an hour to my house, so I could get the spare key, drove me back an hour, and I drove home.
You had a crush on my college roommate. You liked the way she swayed her hips.
We made epic nachos at your apartment one weekend and watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. And both fell asleep.
I was in the bathroom with you when you stripped down to a Speedo and a bow tie and walked back out into your own Halloween party. I believe you were thinking quite clearly whether you like to admit that or not.
You taught me how to ride a rip stick. I felt amazingly cool.
You have a robust and contagious laugh.
You’re a natural athlete- fearless, light. I am not sure what you’re thinking about when you’re doing things like human flagging.
You can pick out the perfect avocado every time. And eat a container of cherry tomatoes which makes my stomach feel acidic just watching.
You came to my art shows and supported me.
You are kind, humble, imaginative, encouraging, interesting but don’t try to be, talented, generous, entrepreneurial, great with words, natural leader, funny, easy to be around, and genuinely good spirited.
I love you, man. Keep dreaming.
