Spotlite on...Dana

Well, here we are with the spotlite on Dana. Where to begin? We met almost two years ago at work. I can never remember the date, so we arbitrarily picked an anniversary date, but alas, I don't remember that either. I think it's May 1, but we will all find out in just a little while. Look for a comment with confirmation.

We both worked for Bank One and met outside on a break. One of the very first things we ever did outside of work was to see Shrek 2 in the theater. I think the first time I really heard her laugh and I mean really laugh was when Donkey walked in the bar (as a Steed) and the Ugly Stepsister asked, "Why the long face?" She had to explain it to me.

It's funny when you look back a friendship like ours at how you begin to hang out with someone, what attracts you to them, the ups and downs, and WAY ups and WAY downs. Were I to write a book, a great deal of it could easily be about Dana. Some of our relationship can be read in this very journal. A little less than a year ago, I was shredded for the world to see. Don't tell anyone, but she was right. As usual.

One of my earliest memories of her was her "Soapbox Speeches." They weren't given on a soapbox and they weren't really speeches, but two of my favorites are what I titled "This Is Why We Live Paycheck to Paycheck" and "If I Were President, I Would..." Maybe someday I will transcribe those speeches.

Dana and I have gone through what I call "the dark period." From Easter last year until late June we didn't speak. I was OK with that until I saw her at work one day. I realized how much I missed her and apologized for my part in our falling out. There was a second smaller episode just before Christmas last year, but I was not going to let our friendship languish for another three months. It took much less time to get that back on track. I have the distinct honor of being in a very small group of people who have fallen out with Dana and been able to claw my way back up. Twice.

Dana got married last weekend. Let's talk for a minute about mixed emotions. I'm gay. I like the mens's. But I can tell you, if I weren't, I would have married her myself. As it is, I get to be great friends with a wonderful woman and get none of the sex. Yay me!

The wedding was beautiful. One of our mutual friends told me that Dana glowed in the dark. She did, too. The reception was in a dimly lit theater. Not when they introduced Jon and Dana. She absolutely glowed. If there was any doubt in anyone's mind before the wedding, all doubts were put aside when she stood in the back of the church.

Jon is a great guy who quite frankly, gets overlooked in Dana's corona sometimes. He's a police officer for a local hamlet who reminds us why policemen are our friends. If he wasn't he could break you right in half. He seems like an angry man a lot, but that's because Dana hangs out with a lot of us gay boys and he's not quite sure what to do with a guy who touches his wife, but doesn't want to go home with her. He really has turned out to be a great guy who I have come to admire.

Both Dana and Jon have had their respective issues in the past, but here's to a long and happy future together. With lots of kids so I can be an uncle. :)

(A picture will be posted when one is approved)