I have a friend who has been a good friend since high school. We both moved to the East Coast to go to different, but nearby colleges, then we both moved to San Francisco and settled here. We've been friends a good 25 years.

On his birthday a few days ago, he sent me a message via facebook listing all the things we had shared in our life and how meaningful it was to him, how valuable. I can't encapsulate his amazing letter here, but I just want to say -- tell your friends how much they mean to you. Just do it. Because you never know when you might not get another chance.

My friend's brother passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 40. I can't help but think that this incredible loss led in some way to him writing this letter to me.

I tell my lady my parents my brother my sister my cousins my nieces and nephews everyday that I love them, sometimes I say it a whole lot but that's because you never know when they're called back home. Thanks for this topic.

I love you guys!

who needs friends? had some, they passed away. My only friend is my wife. all the rest, meh.

I am about to do this thing but for an old boss. She has no idea how much she saved my life by hiring me for the job that I had right after coming out of my abusive relationship. Saying thank you is so important.

heartbeatocean said:

I'm very happy that you had this. What an amazing thing to experience

heartbeatocean said:

That's sooooo nice! What a great friend....

kenlacam said:

a fellow hermit!

kenlacam said:

that's great for you, but neither me or my buddy Dan have significant others, so we both need somebody to love!

ZombieKitten said:

ya sure, tell me your story when you have no kids nor husband...

hokie said:

I should add, just to put it in context, that it wasn't fully in character for my friend to do this. That's partly why it came as such a heartwarming surprise. He is a very cynical person with some problems, and he constantly makes morbid jokes about death. He's one of those people who tends to send out barbs in the guise of joking, but who, perhaps unintentionally, says things that hurt. He is a real hermit (not a fake one...ahem...kenlacam and ZombieKitten! ) so it felt like a reaching out for him to say these things so honestly and affectionately. It really touched me, and I can seeing having gone through life without knowing how much I meant to him.

heartbeatocean said:

hermit despite circumstance, hermetic tendencies perhaps?

Thanks, HBO. I feel that.

I tell folk I love them all the time.

And when I say "folk" I don't mean strangers at the check out line (tho that might be fun ), folk I actually love.

johnart said:

I always stop myself when I'm about to say it

Alej said:

You shouldn't.
It feels good.

And if it freaks the person out, then fuck them (not literally).
Well, if they're hot, maybe.

johnart said:

I just don't want to make a fool out of myself

Alej said:

You can never be a fool for telling someone how you really feel.
They, on the other hand, can be quite foolish if they react immaturely.

You know, I've been on the org since 2004. I'm not one of the frequent posters here, but again and again I always come back. I've had jobs and moved on, I've had relationships and moved on, but the ORG is always here anytime I need to chat. People like Charlotte tend to respond to my posts. Supa actually sends me orgnotes even after I've been absent for months at a time. Alej mentions me in his blog. Threadbare reminds me that I have an online flirting partner (if not a real-life one). MiguelGomez listens to me at org meet ups. And NMuszakNSoul, Mach, Monigram, kenlacam, hokie, and johnart make this place hop and buzz with interesting and intimate conversations. You all mean a lot to me and I am grateful my life has intersected with yours. Thanks everyone so much for being here, whenever I need to connect.

Alej said:

I'm a fool EVERY DAMN DAY FTW!

It's the only way to go.

I love you, heartbeatocean!

i haven't got any friends.

What friends?

Great thread..I am always telling my friends how much they mean to me and that i love them! Or at least I show them if i dont say it all the time...

johnart said:

PunkMistress said:

I love you too!