my best guy friend, bobert, is totally rad. I've known him for about a decade now. We met because we used to work together in a really stuffy office environment that clearly neither of us belonged in, so we started talking one day.

We share tastes in movies, music, and books on a level that we don't with other people. We have inside jokes and traditions. He's helped me emotionally through many upswings and pitfalls in life, and I've done the same for him. He's incredibly kind and gentle. I've only ever heard him swear once. He's very respectful and welcoming of a lot of humans and their beliefs and the way they live. He's also the drummer for a couple rock bands and a pretty heavy metal band, so he has a lot of energy and enthusiasm sometimes.

His mother and I exchanges Christmas cards and postcards. I helped his band get shows when they were first starting out. We went to shows together all the time - and would go on road trips together to see bands and events we both liked. I was there to help him set up and break down at every local show and promote his shows around town.

One time, he was working as a roadie for a band.. and would call me from the road and tell me things like "these guys keep listening to this group in the bus, and it sounds like the kind of crap you listen to. I'll snag you one of their CDs." or "I'm in a weird band merch warehouse in the middle of nowhere, and they have a hoodie from that obscure band you love, I'll bring it to you." Another time, we were at a Dillinger Escape Plan show, and a guy danced up on me and started grinding me from behind without my consent. The first time, I shoved him away and told him to knock it off. He came right back, and faster than I could turn around and say something, Bobert had jumped on the guy, brought him to the ground, and was slamming his shoulders against the floor. That's the only time I had ever seen him be even slightly violent.

We had a standing get-together for burritos at our favorite burrito joint every week.

I've never really been romantically interested in him. Admittedly, the first time I saw him, I thought he was pretty cute. But as soon as we got to know each other, he felt just like a brother to me. If he had ever asked me to, I would have definitely set him up with someone, though I would have had trouble finding someone I thought was good enough for him. But he's married to his high school sweetheart, and they're a perfect match. Even if he wasn't, though, he's a cute rock drummer.. he had no problems bringing in the ladies.

I moved away from that state two years ago, and I very much miss getting to hang with him. Even our spouses get along famously. We keep up via text, email, and facebook.. but it never feels like enough.