An Open Letter to My Best Friend

Dear Matt,

We met three years ago today, at a coffee shop at a time when neither of us drank coffee. You came around at a time when I was worried I’d forgotten how to meet people, how to make new friends. I thought my ability to socialize had atrophied.

But we met and had that whirlwind romance thing, and then the long distance thing, and then the distance that was really all that long thing, and now we are doing the cohabitation thing.

This has been a big year for both of us – you bought a house; I quit my job and went back to school. We decided to move in together and then to work together and with each of these big belabored decisions you reminded me that we are “not like most couples.” And really, how many people could live and work together and still be itching to see each other at the end of every day?

And I don’t think I can think of a time that we have actually “fought.” We argue, we debate, we yell “this is bullshit!” for comedic effect – but there is never real opposition – we’re always on the same side. It wasn’t until I moved in with you that I thought to call you my partner – but now I feel like there is no other word to describe you.

Sometimes the fact that you are helplessly spoiled makes me shake my fist in the air – I know that part of this is my fault but a lot of it isn’t and I’m warning you, one day you are going to tell me that if I loved you I’d get you a bowl of ice cream and I am going to punch you in the face.

I know we’ve both been a bit down about living in the social isolation of the cushy suburbs of a suburb, but I’ve got to tell you – I’d take you and a desert island over a booming cultural metropolis packed to the brim with friendly people. Living with you has become an essential.

Three years ago I could have never imagined what I was getting myself into - all the bowls of ice cream I would prepare, all the poking I would endure, all the things I would learn about networks, beaming, gigs, blah, blah, blah, all the times I would laugh until I thought I would pee, all the times I would need you, all the times I would be needed (to listen to songs about Batman, etc.).


I love you.

Maura