{A friend is someone who sees you at your worst and still manages to see you at your best. I’ve known JoAnn MacKinnon since 1998, and in all these years she’s provided a loyal and lasting friendship in the face of some difficult days. We’ve had quite a few comical adventures together – bumming a light (and a cigarette) off some unamused stranger in Copley Square, locating a bark-less basenji off the Orange Line, and breaking down over the prospect of turning forty (hers was first, mine is coming up). For every bad break-up and every sad loss, there have been healing moments and happy moments, and in the end we’ve built a life shared together – the best and only way to do life right.}
Boom. Chutney. Cheese Pizza.
Guest Blog by JoAnn ‘JoJo’ MacKinnon
Soulmate. When people hear that word they think about it in the romantic sense. Well I am here to say that is not always the case. I believe Alan and I are soulmates without a doubt. Al and I met about 17 years ago which seems like yesterday and at the same time it seems like a lifetime ago. We met while working at John Hancock in Boston which is a blog in itself. The point I want to make, the message I want to convey is that we are two very different people with a deep connection.
It has been known that straight, single women feel that they can change a gay man; they will be the one to “turn him around”. They can get him to fall in love with her. It’s ludicrous and humorous and will never, ever happen. I would never want to change a thing about Al or our relationship. Yes we have been called ‘Will and Grace’ and yes to a degree maybe we do have the stereotypical ‘straight, single woman/ gay male, best friend dynamic’ going on and that’s fine with me. He knows what would look nice on me; he knows what colors compliment my skin, hair and eye color. He pays attention. He is generous. He is always sending me hand-written notes and compilations of carefully-selected music that he knows I will enjoy. He gives me articles of clothing from his private collection and whenever I visit he always has a gift waiting for me in the guest room. When we are together I feel such joy.
I have accompanied Al to many pride events in the Albany area. I enjoy that. It’s important to me. I want to support love whenever I can. I remember at one event I happened to look out onto the dance floor and I saw couples dancing. I saw someone for everyone. I never even saw that they were mostly same sex couples. I don’t see color, I don’t see sexual orientation. I don’t care. What I care about is that you are a kind, honorable, good person. That’s what I care about. It sickens me; it saddens me that people have hatred and prejudice in their hearts.
Why do gay marriage and relationships bother some folks? Why do they care? Why do they spend their time on worrying about two people who love each other? The message I send to those haters is this, there are many things worth worrying about: worry about child sex slaves in the world, in fact get off your ass and find a way to help. Worry about corrupt politicians, worry about our soldiers fighting senseless wars, worry about them dying. Please don’t worry about two people who are in love.
True love is rare. If you are lucky in life perhaps you will experience it and if you do, don’t let it go. Alan is my friend. Alan is my soulmate, and I hope we stay together for a long, long time.
