There is this mystical person in my life, one who exemplifies the positive of human spirit. I call her my Brain. From the moment I met her, I knew that there was a kindred light between us. She rapidly impressed everyone with her will to learn, her ability to recollect, and the fact that she is just plain kick ass. I quickly took her into my life and called her not only friend, but sister-wife. Last year Region 7 spent so much time in the field with disasters that a common thread of people emerged and formed a family.

I don’t know if we are just weird, or if this happens for everyone, but once you spend so much time with a group certain figureheads arise. Suddenly appears deployment parents, spouses, siblings, etc. Brain, V and I so dubbed ourselves TR Sister Wives. It was a joke, initially, but turned to a cozy inside story by the end of my third op last summer. Brain always had her notebook at hand, taking notes on things that you may not think are initially important. Later when the question was asked because the answer forgotten, she’d whip out her notebook and share the details that had been lost to my mind.

When I go through KC I stay with her. We have rituals which involve coffee in the morning (for me) and love notes for her at the end of our time together. I couldn’t be more blessed with better friends than I have found in TR. She is especially at the top of the list. Today was exciting for us because we opted to die our hair. I went bleach blonde and she tried out a new red. She is going to Sturgis this weekend for the first time, and so decided to try something a little radical for her. I think it worked. She has such a joyous spirit, one of loving kindness and service. She will blush when she reads this and think that I am exaggerating, but it’s true. She is my best friend, my sister, my brain. It’s like she is a part of me. If we were not both utterly straight we would probably be a couple, or I would be her stalker… 50/50 shot at that one.

Wanderers, when you find people as special as my Brain, cherish them. Find ways to make sure they know they are amazing, important, and loved. These are the people who bring you back from the brink of insanity and death. These are the people who without even knowing it turn your day the right way. It is not enough to have these people in your life who serve you to make you a better person. Constantly work to ensure that you reciprocate in the best ways possible. I pray constantly that I do this for my Brain, who I feel I could never repay her kindness and friendship enough. Despite my misgivings of failure at friendship, all I can do is work to be as good of a friend to her, as she is to me. Keep that in mind with the people in your life, and practice gratitude and reciprocation for their love.

Signing off from Peculiar, MO.