the ignorant warmth

I, like many of you, had a difficult time getting to sleep last night. Julie is a wonderful person. She really is. 

I went through a few of our private emails and DMs. Here’s a chick going through exhausting rounds of chemo sending me messages wishing me well with my new job, or giving advice with our pregnancy struggles, or just being there with a shoulder to lean on when my wife and I were going through our own medical situation. She didn’t have to offer any advice, any well wishes, any support - but she does because she genuinely wants to. She’s my “imaginary friend” (as she signed one email). I like knowing there is an imaginary (yet very real) friend out there in the ether that is the internet with a truly caring, loving, supportive heart. And let’s not forget, she’s climbing a mountain of her own, but offering to climb one along side you. (Check out Claudia’s post. Amazing.)

She genuinely cares about us, and I think cancer gives her such a unique perspective on life and how to be a good person, good friend and fucking awesome human being. So she’s already won the battle against cancer, no matter what it does to her body. She beat the everloving shit out of it. 

Almost a year ago, she sent me a message on my birthday, and I kept it. I usually delete tumblr messages after reading and answering them. But I just wanted to keep it because it makes me happy to check my messages page and always see her little avatar and a silly half-limerick she wrote for me about wearing a tape dispenser as a hat. 

Julie, Ben and family - please know that all my support and love is being sent to you, as well as the love and support of SO MANY in this “imaginary” community.