Happy birthday to foxmagic

I met foxmagic at the same PT employment gig where I met koogrr. I was impressed by his quick wit and buoyant optimism and high energy. As time went on, I came to know him as a caring person, quick to share his time and himself with his friends.

There was a period of time where Ellie spent a little time at playschool and Daniel was in kindergarten, so I'd have a few hours here and there just to hang out. This was when foxmagic was self-employed, so sometimes I'd drive down to his house and just chill out for a little while. It was a wonderful respite from constant childcare and the bustle of the rest of my life. Once we hit a used book sale at the tiny library in his downtown and watched turtles in the local pond.

foxmagic introduced me to so many things he liked from geek culture. The short story "They're Made Out of Meat." Katamari Damacy. Eliza. Miyazaki. Dragon's Lair. Karaoke Revolution. And those are just the ones I remember offhand. There were some things we both remembered (and loved) from 80s culture, like 80s pop music or ST:TNG. We'd both seen every possible Disney movie, I think. But when it came to things I didn't know, had never heard of, B never caused me to feel dumb for not knowing something. He's actually thrilled to share something new with someone else.

As odd as this sounds, going to visit him reminded me of visiting my grandfather. He has that same tinkering and love of how things work, the same perfectionism, the same generosity, the same beaming willingness to see my good points and overlook my faults.

Things have changed a lot for B and me since then. It's somehow even harder for me to get away now, or - honestly - perhaps it's that I have less need for escape, am more contented and relaxed in my life.

When I first met him, foxmagic longed for a partner to experience life with...and now he and his girlfriend have been together for over two years. She, too, is kind and generous, with a wide smile. She's also very strong and a little spunky. She's good for him.

I'm glad to see my friend's life change over the years, glad to have become friends at the start of this journal and to still be friends with him over five years later.

Happy, happy birthday, foxmagic. Thank you so much for your positive presence. You are a really good friend, not just to me, but to everyone who knows you.