"Soledad" Wow, it's been TEN YEARS!

Wow.  I can't believe it's been ten years since I designed this album art for my friend.  My favorite song of his too.  Funny, I listen to this song and think about what a positive, shining force he was in my life so long ago.  We were just friends, but what a great friendship.  As friendships go with the opposite sex, however, they normally fade to the wayside when romantic interests enter the scene.  Still, what a nice, happy memory of better times.  Better times with a backdrop of hard times.  Still, the better out-weighed the good and creativity flourished, fueled by music and friendship.  What could be better, seriously?

I ran across this tonight, quite by accident, while looking for a song for a facebook friend.  And for the length of one beautiful song I felt almost whole, almost normal... almost me.  It's been too long since I felt like that.  Doesn't matter that it's fleeting, just that I was able to feel it again.

You see, friendships and all relationships can be this way.  It's not magic, and it's not difficult.  When you accept another person for exactly who and what they are without question.... magic happens, magic that has far-reaching effects, kept in memories that stay with us until the end of our lives.  Just simple respect, honesty, loyalty, compassion and love, but of the friend variety (which is often superior than that of romantic relationships).  Oh, that positive light he had around him.... was the best.

If someone is in the dark, shine your light on them.  Some people get this, but many don't, especially those who wallow in that whole "Power of Attraction" thing.  If you're hurting someone by whining, complaining and worse... about that other person's 'negative energy,' then you're not only putting out negative energy... you're also putting it ON the person you're directing your anger etc at.  My friend, the one singing in this song (great albums and songs, all, but this is my favorite)... is the type of person who IS positive energy, positive light, and he shines it on everyone.

Too bad more people in the world couldn't be like this.