Dear Beau,
Beau is so much better than “boyfriend” and connotes more fondness than “partner.” Don’t even think about taking on the moniker “lover” or I shall laugh until whiskey comes out my nose. Beau seems fitting, no? This much is true about our girl – she’s tough, yet tender. On the B side, she’s tender, yet tough. I suspect you know all these complicated nuances already, the dichotomies of city and country, simple and chic. It’s what makes her tapestry so rich and her language so colorful.
Forgive me for being overprotective here. Like I tell my sons, it’s one of the many signs that I care. I show my love by worrying about people and feeding people. I’m also terribly affectionate and goopy so be prepared for more than a handshake when we meet. I want to thank you for being tender hearted, a veritable music loving soul man, if you will. By all accounts, you sing her tune and make her swoon. I swoon at the booming smile in her voice. I hear it when she speaks of you. Even her texts are overflowing with the same brand of goopiness that I appreciate. This is but one reason we are friends. Thank you for wiping away her tears yet recognizing that they might seep out at the most unexpected moments. She’s a rock, my friend, but she needs a rock of her own, too. Being the rock she is makes her a hard head, too. She’ll tell you that it’s strong will. But between you and me, she’s just plain stubborn. Consider this fair warning.
Her friends are her moat, wall, and barbed wire fence. We love this girl fiercely. I imagine you understand how easy it is to love her. We’re a protective bunch but beneath that steel exterior we are melty hearted girls who are thrilled to see our friend bursting with giddiness. You’ve made her happy, truly happy. Happy is a much maligned word, often meaningless in the ubiquity of its use. But forget those shallow, overwrought versions of the word. In the purest sense you have brought happy sunlight to a friend who has been shrouded in fog for too long. I think she deserves some new designer sunglasses.
xo,
Ilina
PS
If this were the 80s I’d make you a mix tape.
Just What I Needed – The Cars
In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel
I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
Melt With You – Modern English
Silly Love Songs – Paul McCartney
Talk About the Passion – REM
Be What You Want, Be What You Are – Hall & Oates
Venus – Bananarama
Lasagna – Weird Al
Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5
Lean On Me – Bill Withers
Bonus track:
Don’t Go Back to Rockville – REM