The last few months of my life could have been very depressing, very…well…melancholy. When big changes occur, it can throw your life into an emotional chaos. I know this because it happened before. However, I did not fall into that well of despair this time around. Instead I chose to look outside of myself and try new and different things. I did not linger on the moroseness of change. Instead I allowed myself to be embraced, challenged and enlightened by the people around me, especially those friends around me who have treated me with an incredible amount of love. I could become real sappy right now, but I won’t. I will just give my thanks to those people one by one so that if they do happen to read this blog entry, they will know how much they mean and have meant to me.

I want to thank:

Randy T. - For being brilliant, complex and one of the most difficult sonsofbitches I have ever known. He drives me crazy with his eccentricities and yet I know that beneath all that gruff, there’s a good man there. He makes me want to be a better person despite himself.

Emily T. - For being the voice of reason in a relationship that could not survive without her sanity. Like her husband, she is a caring, funny person and a really good mother. Initially, I was not too fond of the moniker placed upon me after her baby’s birth. But now I feel honored that someone would spend so little time to give me such an ambiguous name. I am Uncle WeWe. I have accepted that. Although, I prefer Uncle Oui Oui. Makes me sound like I am popular with the ladies of Paris. Oui?

Lovewell - For St. Louis and Cincinnati and Stone Door and forcing me to do all the things I would have thought twice about doing before. It is her spontaneity that both energizes and confounds me. It is her love of baseball that astounds me. Misunderstood and aloof, she is one special lady.

Jenny - Because come rain or shine, hell or high water, she is always there for me. Even when I am a terrible friend, she is always willing to forgive. We all need friends like that. Especially when times are hard. They put aside their grievances and surround you with a warm, loving embrace. For years of enduring my wavering.

Jonathon - For being there for twenty years and giving me something to look forward to every week. He has seen the best and the very, very worst of me and his friendship has never faltered. I owe him more than I could ever give.

Emily S. - For San Francisco. For showing me how beautiful and grand life really was. I had forgotten for a while, but it only took a great friend and a beautiful town to remind me. For the catchphrases and inside jokes. For the times when someone makes a comment and we smirk at each other, knowing only that the other person knows what that smirk withholds. For helping me get over my airport security anxiety. For calling me on my bullshit. For the first birthday party I’ve had in over 30 years. And for the laughter and vodka tonics.

Stacy - For being my film buddy for lo these many years. For the many beers at the bar, sharing stories, talking politics, music, film and women. For giving me a reason to look forward to Sunday afternoons.

Kristi - For her purity of spirit. For the bubble in her laughter. For still wanting the kids and the white picket fence and not feeling bad about it. For the penguins made from love and construction paper. For the many cds despite my laziness in giving them in return.

Mom and Dad - For not becoming a statistic and sticking it out no matter how tough it has been. For showing me what true, unconditional love feels like.

The Listeners of Evening Melancholy - For becoming my extended family. For loving the music as much as I do. For giving me someone to share my passion with.

Bird, Louis, Duke, Django, Billie and on and on and on - For always being there to welcome me home when I need a friend, when I need empathy in the form of unadulterated art.

For all of this and for all of these individuals, I give thanks.