California...here he comes!

My best friend left for sunny Los Angeles on Sunday. We have known each other for 15 years and know each other very very well.
Mark was the second person that I met the day I arrived at UW-Superior. I met him even before my roommate, Miyuki. (Miyuki and I are another story...) I will never forget asking him where the RA’s were and seeing him sitting on his bed, playing his black Stratocaster, and looking like he was damn determined to be where he was and make the most of it. He was there in the moment. Looking back on it...Very Zen.
We have laughed together and cried together. He has been there for me in times that I couldn’t imagine anyone else could be there. He has been my rock sometimes, my cheerleader, and my sounding board. Most of all, he has always been a straight shooter with me. I find it the most wonderful gift of all that he can feel comfortable with telling me the honest truth and know that I won’t flip out on him about it. I feel so totally grateful to have a friend like that in my life. We both have shared two very close and very different circles of friends and yet the two of us have been a part of both circles.
We have drifted apart...life happens that way, but we have always known how to find each other.
He is a phenomenal writer. Think David Sedaris...think Chuck Klosterman...think “This American Life” on NPR. His essays are great and would give others a run for the money. I might be a bit biased, but if I get permission...I will post one here. He’s good
He’s also a great actor. His freshman year he played the lead in “Biloxi Blues”. No mind you...everyone relates this role to Matthew Broderick. He did it on Broadway and on the big screen and Mark had to go against this fact. The wonderful thing...he did just that. He made the character his own and I totally forgot that I knew the show. He owned the character and he was wonderful. He also is one of the very few persons in the history of UWS Theatre that got a rave review from the most scathing theatre reviewer in the upper midwest.
He’s a pretty shrewd judge of character too. Oh boy...between him and my sister...they can judge people pretty well. Almost scary sometimes...
And he loves music just about as much as I do. We can listen to tunes all the time and introduce each other to new music all the time.
He loves to drive and I love riding shotgun with him. I learned the fine art of riding shotgun from him....
He has given me so many gifts...tangible and intangible
We didn’t really say goodbye the other day...it was more like “hey, I’ll see you later...you know how to get a hold of me...” And he made me a mix CD - more like 2. ( You know how music is so important to me) It's a bit of a song cycle. He started out with the Replacements "Alex Chilton" of which the chorus goes..." I'm in love with that song." This is a huge phrase we have shared for the last 15 years, so it's not only personal but also ironic. He ended the 2nd CD with "God Only Knows"...I think one of my most favourite songs. The song goes "God only knows what I'd be without you..." It was a HUGE lyrical message to me and his way of saying goodbye. ( at least that’s what I took it as and it was easier to say “goodbye for now” that way.) And as I was driving down the road...I cried, knowing that I wouldn’t know what and where I’d be without my friend in my life and appreciating him so much more.
We have always been able to just look at each other and not say a word and know exactly what is said.We have gone through a lot together and it's that friend kind of thing. ( He's hoping to find an intelligent Barbie doll out in California. He said that after he first went there .."If I can have lunch with a catalogue model without even trying, I might be in luck" I said go for it... He deserves it.)

So Mark, I send this open message to you if and when you read this...I love you. I am very proud of you for listening to yourself and going with your gut and following your dreams. Not many people are able to do that and you have. You always know that you can come to Wisconsin and my mom and dad will feed you and take care of you and help you pick up the pieces if you ever need to do that. As for you and I...I’ll always be there for you. And damnit...sell that book and let me be your Kato! You will need a PA and everyone in LA has a PA! Become that famous fella and have other famous people call me up to surprise me and have a chat ...and you know who. Either that or fix me up with them. ( you know who I mean too...) Most of all...know that our guardian angel is watching over you. WWKJSD? I KNOW that someone is giggling and sending you good vibes and is very very happy for you.
As for the rest of you...I hope that you have a “Mark” in your life. Someone who is true and wonderful, makes you laugh till you cry and cry until you laugh . Someone that accepts you just for who you are. Someone that “gets it”. Someone that is there unconditionally, doesn’t ask questions until the time has come or when it is needed and then calls you on your shit. Someone that you can find when either one of you are lost. And someone that even if they are far away...you know that they are there - always.
And I know that he will call me and tell me that I’m the sappiest thing this side of the Mississippi - but I was like that 15 years ago and he knows it. I’ve just gotten a little more refined and eloquent with it.