So I was just thinking about my friends the other day. Just, you know, the people I actually hang out with, shoot the breeze with, grab a beer with. Nothing deep, just thinking.
And it kinda hit me, a couple of my closest buddies, the guys I’ve known for years, well, they happen to be gay. It wasn’t like I went out looking for friends with a specific label, you know? It just sort of happened over time.
Meeting Folks
I remember meeting Mark way back. We worked together at this awful place, flipping burgers or something equally glamorous. We just clicked, found the same stupid things funny. Talked about music, complained about the boss. Standard stuff.
- We started hanging out after work.
- Went to a few gigs together.
- Helped each other move apartments like three times.
It was maybe a year or so into knowing him, just casually mentioned his boyfriend. And I was like, “Oh, cool.” And that was it. Literally. Nothing changed. Why would it?
Real Connections
Then there’s Alex. Met him through a hiking group. We both struggled hard on this one trail, ended up lagging behind the main group, just talking crap about how unfit we were. Became hiking buddies, then just regular buddies.
It’s weird, isn’t it? Sometimes people get so hung up on labels. Who someone dates or loves, that becomes the main thing they see. But when you actually build a friendship, day by day, shared laugh by shared problem, that stuff just… fades into the background. It’s part of who they are, sure, but it’s not the whole story. Not by a long shot.
We’ve been through thick and thin, these guys. Helped me out when I was in a tight spot, I’ve done the same for them. Celebrated good times, weathered the bad ones. That’s what friendship is, right?
Just Friends
I look back, maybe when I was younger, things felt different. People seemed more compartmentalized or something. Or maybe I just didn’t know people from different walks of life as much. But getting older, you realize folks are just folks. Your friends are your friends.
So yeah. My gay friends. They’re just… my friends. Good guys. Solid people. Wouldn’t trade ’em. It’s as simple as that, really. Nothing more complicated needed.
