A Special Thanks

Sometimes in one's life you are lucky to have met or known one person who touched you.   In an instant you knew in your heart that that person was special.   There was no bond of blood or relation, but you felt that you had known that person for ages and that you felt comfortable with him beyond your years in life.   I felt that with my late Richard who passed away at age 28 in 1993.   He was like that comfortable sweater that you put on that always seemed to fit.   He made me laugh and cry.  He was so my opposite in many ways and not of the body type that I would have ever dreamed of.   But I loved him so utterly deeply that it was truly love at first sight.    He was the most profound person I've ever met in person.

But let me tell you about the most profound person I've met in the last 20 years.

My friend is Tim.   You may know him as Tearle in the fratpad chatroom.    For some reason we have gravitated toward each other - as if moths to flames - a shared kindredness that I've called "brothers separated at conception".    There is no reason I should find him as endearing as I do - he's Canadian - I'm a rabid American.   He's physically fit - I'm, well, a work in progress.   He's more reserved and often sells himself short.   I'm brash in cyberspace and a total recluse in the real world.

And yet, I love him so.

There is something about him that goes beyond the ones and zeros of cyberspace that I so love.   He's the only person since Richard that I can be totally honest with - and he with me.   We know the warts of each other's character and we share totally useless conversation that only friends share.   I never knew how I missed that, but Tim is beyond just a screen name.   He truly seems to care.

And I do care about him.

I want to state emphatically to those in the chatroom at fratpad who have nothing better to do than to spread falsehoods, that I hold Tim in the highest regards and he is forever my friend.   I shall never give up on him and he is one of the only people living who now has access to my heart.    I don't know why some in chat would make such a ridiculous and dishonest representation about Tim and I, but let it be stated for the record that you are a liar.   Tim will forever be a keyholder with me and he and only him right now has the special recognition as my best friend.   And if we lived closer, who knows what this might blossom into.

To Tim - a special thanks for being someone whom I love beyond reason.    I thank you for being a true friend.