It was 7 years ago at Jaiye’s 22nd birthday party
that a friendship started. I can remember it almost like it was yesterday. I
was distraught after my breakup plus having to move and having to learn how to navigate
what It meant to be gay while still trying to remain true to myself. My friend
from college suggested that I go with her to her friend Jaiye’s party. I had
met him a few time before and while I found him entertaining my overall
impression was “eh” before I knew it I was dressed in all white and partying
with his other friends. Soon we were all off to Woody’s and it was clear we
both loved to have a good time. For the remainder of the year Jaiye and I went
to every party together and the friendship was almost instant.
As time went on life moved us apart and when we chose to
live together our friendship ended, or at least we thought it had. It was
almost a year before we made up but when we did it was clear that we both had
matured. The crew we had in our early twenties decided to mature as well. Tia
moved to Texas and AreJay moved to Florida with our friend Adam. It made complete
since that a sever year friendship would reunite us at Jaiye’s 29th
birthday party.
It was the last time Jaiye would celebrate a birthday
starting with a two and all he wanted was a few friends to get together. Phill
had moved on and we from Phill so all that was left was Tia, AreJay and myself.
The first night was karaoke at Tabu and the following night was dancing at
Woody’s. The two nights was nothing really to blog about. Most of each night
was spent remembering when we used to go out every Wednesday and dance on the
speaker box. Nights when Dan Woody owned Woody’s and those over 21 paid a 2
dollar minimum. It was not that long ago but when you think about how the
Gayborhood has changed it seems almost forever ago. Clubs like Bump and 12th
air command and Sisters are no longer. Woody’s is no longer owned by Dan Woody
and now looks almost completely different.
We were there when the Gayborhood morphed slowly from what
it was to what it is. The Gayborhood is where we celebrated growing from what
we were to what we are. It was only fitting that it was where we celebrated the
beginning to the last year of my best friends 20’s.
While it was fun to reminisce it was made abundantly clear
that I have hardly aged. When I went to get on the speaker box like I did when
I was 22 Jaiye refused to follow claiming he was too old. So while my friends
are aging my body is clearly only slowing being affected by time.
But Happy 29 to Jaiye and happy 7 years of friendship to the
both of us.
