On imaginary friends

You're friends. You talk about your day, complain about your SO, cheer each other on, send each other silly pictures.

You're friends. You share recipes, you ask "which dress?" and talk about your favorite shows and gossip about your other friends.

You're friends. Sometimes you get drunk together, sometimes you share a meal. Sometimes you're lucky enough to do this in person, because you only talk over the internet, where you met.

And when you go, you're really gone. You're a hole in my life, you're a friend I'll never meet, and one I'll never forget.

I lost a friend today. We used to have long talks about boys and clothes, and she always tsk-tsk'd me for buying cheap bras. She had an awesome dog and a wonderful boyfriend. I was so happy about them ending up together. She seemed so much happier. You could see it in her eyes.

I lost a friend today. So did a lot of other friends, some I've met and some I haven't. And the grief isn't imaginary. The loss of a warm, caring, brilliant person on the planet isn't imaginary.

I'm speechless, and sobbing, and I miss my friend.

Rest peacefully, Xian. You were loved, and you will be sorely missed.

Look, I hope I'm wrong. I hope he somehow bumbles his way into change for the better. More jobs, better education, more affordable health care. Eight years ago, Republicans fumed and raged over Obama's win and refused to accept that he did even one thing right in eight years.

Now it's the Democrats' turn. Let's be the change we want to see in the world. Let's show people what working together means. Set an example for our kids to see what it means to be mature and act with reason.

Don't spend the next four years hating for the sake of hating. That sounds exhausting. Spend the next four years working to be the bigger person. Act with grace and humanity.

Quit letting us be a nation that supports ONLY this or ONLY that, with no room for anything else. Buy a beer for the guy who disagrees with you because disagreeing is what made this country to begin with. Agree to disagree and then agree that there's always room for improvement.

No matter who you voted for, you have a chance right now to lay the groundwork for a country of people who care about each other, no matter what. Start today so it'll be even easier tomorrow.