Do me a favor. Close your eyes and try to vividly think of all the people who have supported you in ways both big and small. Think of the friendship they showed and how they expressed it. Thank them for the time spent with you whether it was long or short. Now, open your eyes. If you could be afforded an opportunity to sit across from the person most present in your meditation, what would you say? As it is every year, this letter is my opportunity to do exactly that. Where the spoken word fails me, putting words to page attempts to rectify.

It is strange to me how Jonathan came into my life. We came of age in Oklahoma. We moved to Washington state. We met because of a mutual friend from Seattle after we both moved to Los Angeles.

Attempting to survive in this city is nearly impossible without a close group of friends. Trying to settle myself into a new place, I turned to old routines and began networking. Wanting a close group of friends who understood being a member of the LGBTQ community, I turned to an LA version of a Seattle group called “Engage.” That’s when I first met Jonathan. A mutual friend of ours from Seattle made it happen but building up the courage to go was all mine; a decision I will never regret.

Instantly, I knew we had much in common. We had lived in similar places, grown up in Baptist churches, we were creative, focused, and loved to laugh. We both know what we want out of life. We may not always arrive there gracefully, but we arrive, nonetheless.

As I began preparing for the Pacific Crest Trail, balanced all my volunteer commitments, and struggled through a workplace I found acting unethically, Jonathan was there offering unwavering support, guidance, and counsel. Honestly, his active listener skills may be his best quality.

With this chapter of my life coming to a close, our opportunity to be present in each other’s lives will become more complicated. Dinners, drinks, and late-night talks will become more challenging with each mile hiked and every bit of distance between us. Still, I am so very thankful for Jonathan’s friendship. He and his friends have made this city a place I love, and they have made it hard to leave; something I never thought I would type.

With the changing of this season, I don’t fret, and I am not sad. When I close my eyes and meditate on those who have impacted my life, I see people who were in my life for mere moments and those who have known me for decades. It is that second group I most adore. It is them who I have chosen to invest in as well. For all that Jonathan’s friendship has given me, I hope I have been able to return some of the favor. If I haven’t, don’t worry. I am not done, yet.

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

This website exists because of readers and supporters. If what you just read made you smile, please consider supporting the website with a monthly gift. Your support means everything and proves to the world that original content still matters.