I’ve always thought the idea behind Valentine’s Day, once you strip away all the capitalist trappings and get back to the basics, was a good one - much like many holidays, it revolves around togetherness and expressing gratitude to the people you’re closest to. In that spirit, here’s a small post celebrating some folks I am grateful to know here on tumblr.
@bkcybvrnes - I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend who was quite so RIDE OR DIE about my work before, and Gunnu is one of the most genuinely supportive and encouraging people I’ve ever met. In fact, she’s probably one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, period. As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to value knowing people I can absolutely trust to be real with me, and Gunnu is without a doubt one of those people. It’s not just that she values truth highly, it’s that truthfulness is an intrinsic part of her personality, and maybe even more valuable, she’s able to accept truth with the same grace and understanding that she dishes it out with. She definitely carries wisdom and maturity beyond her years, but she’s also refreshingly open and accepting to growing through new experiences, and I feel so fortunate that I’ve been able to share so much with her.
@marsza - I know I’ve said this before in various ways and Nia always scoffs at me, but she is genuinely probably the single nicest person I know. She’s not saccharine or over-the-top, she’s just so empathetic and understanding. I think maybe it comes from a really deep, really intrinsic love of other people, but I admit I don’t quite know how she does it. She is so generous with her time and her sweetness, and she is such a brilliant intersectional feminist with such a beautiful view of the world. She gives so much of herself to other people and I’m honestly in awe of her for it; she is genuinely working to improve the lives of those she comes into contact with and that’s so, so admirable. If I were to have a child, I would hope that they would have the good fortune to meet someone like Nia and learn from her. As it is, I’m just so grateful to call her my friend. Even if she is Danny DeVito.
@prancy - I’m pretty sure Allen is the single most brilliant person I know. And I mean brilliant not only in the sense of intelligent, but also just - bright, in the sense that his point of view illuminates corners of the world not usually seen. He has so much to share, and shares it in such a beautiful way, and I think anyone who knows him is lucky to have their life enriched by his point of view. He looks at the world with such discernment and examines it in a way I don’t think anyone else is capable of, and which I appreciate so much because it resonates so deeply with me and the way I’ve always looked at the world. I think Allen truly has a searching soul, which can be both a blessing and a curse for its owner, but is certainly a blessing for everyone who is touched by his creative and scholarly work. Allen is a brilliant writer and the world is a richer place to have his writing in it.
Happy Valentine’s Day, babes.
