We'll Kiss On A Mountaintop

I want to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof.

I feel a rather stupid amount of happiness right now because of two people. Even with everything going on with my wife and the anxiety and unhappiness that come along with it, two of my friends have continually made me feel loved, accepted, and insanely happy. This post is a tribute to them.

I want to walk with you on a cloudy day.

I have known my friend Tracy for over 25 years now. My friend Shannon I've known for about a year and a half or so, but we've really gotten close since about Christmas. Without these two women I would be having a much harder time with everything I'm going through.

Tracy was one of the few extremely pretty (OK, gorgeous) girls who would speak to me in high school. I had a crush on her from the first time I ever saw her but never made a move because I felt like she was way out of my league. She was always a very warm person, kind to pretty much everyone. She was also the sole reason I joined the drama club to do sound production. I was too shy to ask her out but at least I could use drama club as an excuse to hang out with her.

When we graduated we lost touch, as so many people do. Especially in the early '90s when we didn't have cell phones or the internet to stay connected. It wasn't until our ten year reunion that we saw each other again. There were only three people I wanted to see at that reunion, and Tracy was on top of that list. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to talk because we both spent much of the evening on opposite sides of the room.

We didn't really begin to connect as completely as we now have until five or six years ago, via Facebook. Ever since we connected on there, we have continued to grow closer and closer. She has unquestionably become my best friend, and knows more about me than anybody else does. She was the person I talked to the most when my wife and I were discussing possibly divorcing, and along with Shannon has been the biggest help with me becoming comfortable with who I am now.

While I'm safe there in your arms.

Shannon and I met through Twitter, and I will freely admit that I really started following her because she is hot as the sun. However, she is also hilarious, and extremely caring, which is why when I deactivated my Twitter account, I made sure to find a way to keep in contact with her before I left. We have stayed in contact through Instagram, and although I still flirt with her a bit too much, my appreciation for her grows daily. Her kindness and support amazes me even more because we have never actually met in person.

Back in February, Shannon was my support for when I was being adventurous and wearing some sexy garments out of the house for the first time. Over the course of two days I ventured out to the library, grocery store, and mall while wearing either a white negligee or a purple corset-type body suit thing under my clothes. The first day, when I went to the library, I was absolutely petrified sitting in the parking lot, but she helped me find the courage to go inside.

It was mostly because of that day that Shannon was the first person I asked to call me Emily.

Sorry, had to block out names... It goes her, then me, then her.

I love that from the very first second she was accepting.

I could go on for hours about Tracy and Shannon, and how much they have impacted my life. They have both been so wonderfully accepting of me, and as I said, without them I don't think I would be anywhere near as comfortable as I am with who I am. Instead of talking about them though, I would rather show just how awesome they are.

Tracy asked if she could call me Emily before I even had a chance to ask if she would...

The first time Shannon called me Emily...

Tracy gets me like nobody else does...

Every time Shannon calls me Emily, my heart smiles.

Same with Tracy. Happy smiling heart.

The first time Tracy gave me a nickname, I could hardly contain my joy!

Tracy is also very good at being very real with me.

I asked Shannon to never call me Larry again, after asking the same of Tracy.

More nicknames from Tracy.

My favorite message from Tracy in the history of ever.

My favorite message from Shannon, when discussing body issues and wanting to be more feminine. I almost cried from this one.

The final thing I want to discuss is just how much Tracy gets me. I pride myself on being able to express myself in writing, much more so than speaking which I am horrible at. When my wife told me she is no longer comfortable with me wearing panties, I was pretty much a wreck. (And still am a lot of the time, to be honest, since we haven't had much chance to discuss anything further.) I was at a loss to describe how I was feeling and what I wanted to say to my wife, and even myself. Tracy summed it up better than I possibly could have at that time.

Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you.

To Tracy and Shannon, I love the two of you more than you will ever know. I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you for everything you have done for me, because I don't know if there are enough words to describe the size of the debt or enough years to repay it

Tracy, I cannot wait to see you again. Shannon, I cannot wait to see you for the first time. You both mean absolutely everything to me.

Title and captions today are from "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones, a song that Tracy introduced to me and which means a lot to us.