Today I lost one of my oldest friends to cancer. I met Don when we were 14 and 15 at a speech meet in Belle MO. We were competing against each other in poetry reading. Immediately, he introduced himself and asked who I was. Don had beautiful blue eyes and the warmest smile. He didn't care that we were competing against each other or that I was from a different school he just cared that I was a new person to know.
That's just how Don was, he loved meeting new people. He always wanted to include everyone in everything, no exceptions. His generosity of spirit believed every person was a new friend. I never knew him to exclude anyone. We dated on and off in high school, but truly we were always more friends than a couple. After high school I ran into Don at a gay bar, which made us both so happy to reconnect. We stayed in contact over the years even ending up in the same city. Seeing him was a treat and he always welcomed me with the love of an oldest and dearest of friends. Again that was how Don was, all of us were old friends he was overjoyed to see.
Today the cancer he has been fighting for the last 2 years finally won the battle. His baby sister broke the news on Facebook. We all knew it was coming, but still we all cried as our hearts were breaking. A world without him in it seems less. All I can do is cry and remember that warm smile including me in his inner circle of friends. An inner circle which is legions of friends all heartbroken by his passing. We will miss you my friend.
Love Jamie
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