December 20th, 2018
Today marks two years since the night you walked away from our friendship to start a new life. I admire you for that now. You got married last April which I was ecstatically happy to hear about a month or so beforehand. I went to your registry and added things to it but reneged after confirming with my closest friend that it was probably a bad idea. It would not have been welcome I do not believe. Instead, I silently wished you both well that Saturday in April and went about my day. I am sure you were a beautiful bride. I often imagine your style for that day and hope to one day see pictures.
After two years, I no longer think about you every day but I still think about you often. Always fondly and always with the hope that you are happy and content. I didn’t heal immediately after that six month mark back in June 2017 but I did begin sometime later around the time you moved to San Diego. The winter of 2017 and the year anniversary of our parting was a time of complete healing and closure for me. Since then I continue to change and evolve. My outlook on life and understanding of who I am resembles nothing of the person you sat across from and walked away from two years ago.
I owe at least some of that to you.
Two years. Hard to believe you’ve now been gone half of the amount of time we knew one another. When I look back at all the memories, it seems to me we knew one another so much longer. Much has changed for me, more than I can or should put into writing here but I’ll touch on a few in case you make your way here someday. Sort of stream of consciousness so forgive me. Things have mostly been positive! Work remains work but in a positive way. I have made a new name for myself in photography circles here in Dallas and, oddly, in Denver where I travel often and am looking to make a move to permanently. I find solace in photography again. I spend a lot more time on myself in meditation which has had the added benefit of making me a more calm, less dark person. I attended Labyrinth Ball in Los Angeles this past summer which was my first time in LA. In all the talks we had, I probably mentioned Melony, my ex wife’s sister and her struggle with drugs. She sadly passed away last week at the age of 28. Last spring I had a “heart event” and now get to see a doctor once a month. Just before you and I parted, I’d met a person at work who I got along with. Two years later we are the closest of friends and confidants. Strictly plutonic. I won’t make that mistake again.
Some things remain the same. Ghost and Bronn, your “squishy face” are doing well these days and joined me on an 11 day trip last year. Speaking of, the original “Campler” you spent time in was stolen from storage in July 2017. Instead of doing another towable, I bought a Class C drivable which I took to the Grand Canyon and five other national parks over last Christmas. We had an amazing time.
Life moves forward for me as it does for all. I miss you at times but I no longer avoid places that were special to us. I think about you here and there and wonder how you are doing, if you have a kiddo of your own, what it’s like to live in San Diego and how much you must love driving a convertible in that weather, etc.
Always I hope you are well, abundant with life and that your path is full of love and light.