Five by Five, R. Five by Five.

Today is Ryan’s birthday. Let the well wishes commence!

Ryan and I met online before he moved to St. Louis. My reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in one of my online profiles caught his eye as he surveyed the landscape of fellas that would await him once he moved here. The Scooby Gang extends to all corners of the world and one knows that an allegiance with a fellow Buffy devotee is a must when moving into a new city. It is especially true for St. Louis, a town that (at times) makes Sunnydale look like a cake walk.

I was, at first, flattered that a cute boy was chatting me up. But then again, I’m always flattered when a cute boy chats me up. But Ryan was different than most of the cute boys online. He had a soul.

With time, that initial feeling of giddy cute boy flattery changed as I learned more about him, his life and his various trials and tribulations. A strange sort of kinship developed as I realized that this wasn’t some typical gay online cat-n-mouse kinda game. It was a friendship that wasn’t wrapped up in the emotional goo of does-he-like-like-me or does he just like me? It was, indeed a first for me – and I suppose it was a little baby step towards a more mature understanding of gay male friendship.

While Ryan is the latest addition to my particular Scooby Gang of beleaguered optimists, I suspect that he doesn’t know that when I think of him, he’s much more Buffy-like to me than anyone I know.

While his ability to verbally eviscerate the inane and the ignorant is as formidable as a mid-season ex-demon who fears only bunnies, he possesses a strength of character that is much more Slayer worthy.

While he entered my little narrative well into its 33rd season, he still impresses me with his thoughtfulness and his principles, which are as fully developed, well reasoned and sensible as anyone I’ve ever known. And while I’ve been a shit-pot stinker to him on a number of occasions, he has never failed me as a friend.

If he doesn’t slay you with his pretty blue eyes, he’ll definitely slay you with his loyalty and generosity. I know that when it comes time to fight the good fight, he's on my side and I feel very lucky and very honored to call him my friend.

Happy Birthday, doll!