This piece is dedicated to a dear friend I admire. I do not want him going through this life not knowing the impact he has had in mine and just how much of a difference he makes in the lives of everyone he encounters.
“Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.” — Margaret Peters
This one’s for you Jude:
To know Jude, is to love Jude. He is that little bright spot in a world that is constantly trying to make you so cynical. I’ve known Jude for 17 years now - a friendship that started off only because he had a massive crush on one of my friends (very 2005!). But through the years, I’ve seen this human grow, evolve and preserve.
Over the years I’ve introduced Jude to almost all my other friend groups, family members, and neighbours. He gracefully greets the group, with his huge, warm and easy smile, listens to the grandmas, entertains every uncle’s question and ever so curious about each one of them, so naturally making them feel comfortable in the conversation.
After a certain point Jude became, what I like to term ‘on call friend’ Always at the ready. He’s modelled nothing but supportiveness, encouragement and even stern dressing downs when warranted. I’ve called him when my mom desperately needed a hospital bed. He was there.
I’ve called him when I couldn’t bear the weight of a bad decision. He was there.
I’ve called him for a silly laugh when someone across the street reminded me of a summer camp memory. we laughed together.
I’ve learned so much from Jude. The power of communication. Building and maintaining relationships. Duty towards your family. Dealing with difficult people. Taking risks. Staying on course and trusting the process. The loveliness of surprise calls half way across the globe.
Jude’s most defining quality would have to be his ability to connect people and bring them together. It’s like he has some sort of rolodex in his brain of all the people he’s ever met and which other people they would so seamlessly get along with.
Jude’s been my safe harbour, someone I can laugh with, fall apart in front of and always jive to mambo no 5 with.
Jude, I hope you know how fiercely I value this friendship and how blessed I am to have known you for 17 out of your 32 years. Here’s to yet another trip around the sun that’s filled with wild experiences, new heights of success and that huge, warm and easy smile.
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