Thursday, September 10, 2015

Go-to-Gay: Leading Ladies

Where else but Chick Lit Central for Go-to-Gay Gary Edwards to give a shout-out to his female friends?!? Take it away, Gary...

Wonderful Women

We all have friends and need them to share our lives with. They are there for the good and bad. I have always had a group of leading ladies as friends. My whole life I have had wonderful friends that have been there for me. I am so blessed to have them. I always stay in touch with most of them. Some were there for a period of time in my life when they needed me or I needed them. Many times when I needed strength or times when I needed to laugh.

With Carel

I think friends show up in time when you need them and also when they need you! A friendship is not about me it is about we! They are always there and so are you. You may not always be in the same town or see each other often but when you do you pick right back up where you were. If there is a crisis you are both there to offer unconditional love and random acts of kindness. Sometimes you grow in different directions. When that happens you still have a smile and think of them fondly, remembering some goofy thing they did.

With Gina

As I write this one friend comes to mind. Someone I met online via Wade. She has helped me on so many levels and I always hope that I help her. We laugh and leave goofy messages on each others phones to brighten the day. But it is more than that, she is one of my biggest go to people I have. My life line emergency contact. We have brainstormed about life, about how to market and create the writing workshops I help host for Wade. She was the person who told me I could quit my job and help Wade. That it was going to be okay and that life was going to be okay. She is a giver and is a genius at figuring out life. Really she should be a shrink or life coach, she will call you out and also point you in the right direction. She just gets it and can see the forest threw the trees. We both talk a lot but also listen. But, for all the fun, laughter and guidance she has given me, I sometimes think she forgets to give it to herself. She is at that place in life I was a few years ago. She is high up on the diving board ready to jump ready to dive. What she doesn’t know is that her gift, her talent is real. That with her life experience, her business experience and that the advise she gives really, really works. That she spends so much time helping others that it is ok for herself to give her own self permission to jump. To officially do what is destined...to become a life coach! To build a platform of people to guide on a spiritual & professional level. Suzanne has overcome and beat all odds. So Suzanne this blog is for you. A thank you for all you do for who you are and to know it’s your time. Go for it, the sky is the limit. I know this is the advise that you would give me. So I hope you hear me and that reading this will cause you to make the jump, to go for it.

With Suzanne

As I said I believe friends are there and it is all about destiny and timing. I can think of my friend Laura, the first person I ever told I was gay. I don’t think I would be here had she not been in my life. We have not seen each other in years but we still talk and I am so happy to also see the life she has created. My friend Julie who was my rock and there for me when I stopped drinking. I have so many special leading ladies in my life! I am so grateful and hope they all know how much I love them!

With Rose

Oh, and Suzanne call me and let me know how the water is once you jump off the diving board. I hope you do a canon ball and make a huge splash! I love you my friend!!

Here is a shout out to some of my favorite leading ladies that have helped shape me to be me!

XO to Aunt Ellen, Laura, Cammy, Angie, Beth, Laurie, Amy, Ann, Bernadette, Sintra, Susan, Ruth, Lynn, Heather, Maureen, Jill, Julie, Q, Charlee, Nicole, Linda, Carol, Carel, Rene, Sue, Trish, Lauren, Annette, Kathy, Nancy, Molly, Sally, Dora, Becky, Rose, Leslie, Glo, Annie, Kristen, Jody, Mary, Wendy & Shari. You are just a few of the wonderful friends I have that help me be me. There are more, including Melissa and Tracey from Chick Lit Central! So don’t kill me if I didn’t give you a shout out. I feel like I just made a bad academy award speech and I’m sure I forgot to thank the producer! I really just want to say thanks to you all for making my life a brighter place! Suzanne you got this!!!!!!

Trish

What are some things you wish and hope for your best friends? Who would you like to give a tribute to?

Gary Edwards is the marketing and events manager for bestselling author Wade Rouse. Edwards arranges Rouse’s tour schedule, speaking engagements as well as coordinates and facilitates his writing workshops and retreats.  Additionally, Edwards has helped market and promote all five of Rouse’s books. Edwards also has a background in hospitality, and sales as well as design.   With his vast professional background and a love to listen and help friends he is a perfect storm of love and nurture. Edwards is Martha Stewart meets Dear Abby with a dash of Mrs. Doubtfire.  For more, please friend him on Facebook and Twitter.



3 comments:

suzannejacob said...

My Dearest Gary, to say I was surprised as I read your post is an understatement. My heart filled with love as I read your kind words and my eyes with tears of gratitude. I have been walking back and forth to the edge of this 'diving board' for far too long and I know the water is beckoning. It's an awkward place to be, knowing that my own resistance to imaginary fears has kept me from enjoying the pool where you are. Thank you for this nudge, I guess it's time to just close my eyes and jump! <3

Janine said...

This is a wonderful post. Some of the best friends I have I met online. I don't know them in person but they are always there to lend an ear when I need one or offer up advice. If ever one needs me, I am always there for them too.

Unknown said...

What a sweet. wonderful person you are, Gary!