Over the past 5 years I've had three male friends who have been pretty special to me. I gave them a special page, since they don't fit neatly into any category.
Lou is the one I've know the longest. He started as a coworker; in fact, we had a rather uneasy relationship at first. He eventually became a friend, a mentor, and one of my favorite people. He helped me to believe in myself and my abilities, and challenged me (perhaps without even realizing it) to be myself. Most of the time we knew each other he lived in the Detroit area and I lived in Minneapolis/St. Paul, but Lou and his development team recently moved here and we've been able to spend time together once again.
I met Steve through the Internet, and after writing for a short time we met and became friends. Steve was very helpful for me when I started my new job in the spring of 1997. He listened to my struggles in that job, which was never a good fit, and encouraged me throughout that time. As that job ended, he's continued to encourage me and has talked to people on my behalf within his own company. Steve and I have both gone through huge changes and our friendship has evolved and grown. We can talk so comfortably about so many things that our monthly lunches never seem long enough!
I also met Bruce through the Internet, and his good-natured humor and optimism have lifted me up many times as I've faced major ups and downs these past few years. Bruce and I are so different, yet I value his friendship and the mutual support we continue to give each other. That's what friendship's all about! When we met, he lived in Texas. He moved here for a year but Minnesota never felt like home to him. He now lives in Phoenix AZ, and I miss the daily in-person contact with him that I had grown so accustomed to, but we're still best friends and rarely miss a day communicating by e-mail.
Lou helped me believe in myself as a smart, competent professional who could be and do far more than I had previously believed. Steve and Bruce helped me believe in myself as a woman and grow in confidence as a person. I think God brought each of these men into my life at just the time that I needed them, and I'm grateful for each of these special guys.
|
|
|
| Lou | Steve | Bruce |