Joel
Known Since: About 1989?
Resides In: Washington, DC
I actually knew Joel before I met Joel, if that makes sense. Joel knew
Aaron, and Aaron and I were both part of this amateur press alliance
thing
for writers. He got Joel involved, and Joel and I mainly met through
print.
Joel and I were both writers-in-training, and both liked the same music
of
that time (the only other person I'd met, besides me, that liked Night
Ranger), and we started working together on writing stuff and started
communicating more and more because of that. By the time we met in person
in 1990, when a bunch of us hooked up for the first San Diego summer
get-together, we were already really good friends. And have been ever
since.
As I said, Joel's a writer, and is always looking to get that novel
finally finished. He's a big fan of a lot of the late 80s/early 90s
rock
bands, such as our big shared favorites, Queensryche (Operation: Mindcrime
was coolest album ever!) or Extreme. He's a big reader as well, as most
writers are supposed to be (like I'm supposed to be...). He's a big
movie
fan, too, and still ticks me off because he and Joan got to see Kenneth
Branaugh's "Hamlet" premiere at the Smithsonian...with Branaugh
there!!
Grrrr! He's prone to fits of hysterical laughter and is strongly
opinionated about many things. In a way I sort of feel like I've been
roommates with him, since we used to share a room at the Marriott in
San Diego every year for the annual gathering before I moved here (and
get hooked up on the amenity baskets Joan would always have waiting...).
He's been a good friend for many years, and it's
nice to know that's never going to change. Distance and time? Never
heard
of 'em! We see each other once a year now, but it's always like picking
up
right where we left off. The sure mark of a true friendship.
Random Me and Joel Memory: Going to the Queensryche show at
Arco Arena that
time.
Joan
Known Since: Either 1994 or 1995
Resides In: Washington, DC
So I'm living in Arizona, and I get a phone call from my friend Joel. He lets me know that he's met someone online. Well, hey, that's great news. And he says they've fallen in love. Well, all right! Joel certainly deserved it, so I was happy for him. He did let me know, though, there was a bit of a twist. There was a bit of an age difference. Was I worried about it? Well, maybe a little, at first. Love is dicey enough without even more complications thrown in (my native American name is Speaks From Experience). But when I, and everyone else, met Joan, and saw her and Joel together, there was no doubt that the only issue here was how long until the wedding. And it happened soon enough, I'm happy to say. Joan and I mostly know each other from e-mail. Being a writer, she has no problem communicating in this realm, and she was very much there for me when I was going through my big breakup, which I've always appreciated. A professional in the meeting planning industry, Joan is insightful, honest, caring and giving. All this, and a cherished friend as well.
Random Me and Joan Memory: Actually meeting in person in Sacramento!