I joined SG back in May at maybe the lowest I'd ever felt. I had just graduated from my community college. My grades weren't good enough to get into any of the colleges I had applied to. I didn't even know if I wanted to continue on in engineering, which was what my associate's degree was in. I had retreated into my shell for so long that the only friends I had were my mother and my brother and sisters. I was working a job that was taking it's toll on me both mentally and physically. I had thoughts of suicide. Every night as I would drive home from my job or from school I thought about just yanking the wheel over at 75 miles per hour.
Piper was my first friend here. I had people who followed me on here before. I had gotten welcome messages and all that. But Piper was the first person to treat me like a friend. To actually talk to me. It started out with silly jokes and wise ass remarks. But you'd be surprised how many and how great friendships arise from silly jokes.
We shared jokes and silly pictures. We shared hopes and dreams. We talked about our fears and the little things that keep us awake at night. We watched movies together. We traded ideas for writing blogs and inspired each other. She gave me a nickname.
And from that friendship I was introduced to you all. Not all at once. But slowly over time. I met all you wonderful people that I now call my friends. We laughed over silly things. We cried when life took it's best shots at us. We comforted each other through moments of weakness. We cheered each other on in moments of triumph. We talked about everything under the sun, and a little more besides.
I met my girlfriend because of Piper. If Piper hadn't been following her I don't know if we would have talked yet. For the first 23 and a little extra years of my life I was always alone. Not that I didn't have friends and family and such. But I was always separate. Now I'm one half of something really special.
In a few short months, my life has turned around in a huge way for the better. I have people I call good friends. I have a wonderful girlfriend that I'd do anything for. I have a place where I feel like I can share all my ambitions, my dreams, my happiness, my fears, and my failures. I don't think about turning that wheel when I'm driving down the highway.
Those things are real.
I'm going to make this blog public so Piper can see it if she's out there watching still. You were a good friend to me Piper. Always were. And I hope if you see this you find some way to tell me the truth. Because if there's one thing that you should have learned from everything we did together, it's that I'll listen. I always will.
You dedicated a song to me once. And now I dedicate it back to you Piper.
Feather out.
