Adulthood comes with some incredible freedoms, and one of the most rewarding is the ability to choose your inner circle—the family we create for ourselves. These are the people who stand by us through life’s storms and share in the joys of its sunshine.

Last Friday, I had the profound honor of being the best man for my best friend, Juan (@luckyfellow). Long-time readers of my blog might recognize Juan from posts about our annual trips to Montreal, Chicago, and Northern Minnesota. But I’ve never shared the full story of how our humble friendship began.

Juan and I met on a shuttle bus to a resort in Cancun back in 1999. At the time, we were both working jobs we didn’t love to pay the bills while pursuing our creative passions in our free time. Something clicked between us instantly, and that chance meeting sparked a friendship that would define both our lives.

In the years that followed, we collaborated on a couple of children’s books and started a tradition of taking trips together. Our first adventure was to Las Vegas in 2000, followed by a trip to Chicago the next year. Both of us were “financially challenged,” with less than $200 each to spend over four days. Somehow, we made it work thanks to a little dive called The Cass Hotel and Subway’s famous $5 footlong sandwiches. Those early trips remain some of my favorite memories, and we still laugh about them today.

Over the last two decades, our friendship has weathered every test—divorces, marriages, health scares, life changes, and perhaps the greatest trial of all, the COVID-19 pandemic. That period was particularly hard on friendships, yet ours not only survived but in some ways grew stronger.

We also supported each other’s creative careers, pushing and encouraging one another until we both achieved and eventually surpassed our dreams. Along the way, our bond deepened into a brotherhood.

Then, three years ago, Juan met Margo. From the moment he first told me about her, I had a feeling she was "the one." They share so much in common—both are talented artists with shared values, goals, and ideals. It came as no surprise when Juan asked Margo to marry him, and I was deeply honored when he asked me to be his best man.

The day before their wedding, a poem came to me. It was one of those rare moments when inspiration strikes all at once. I immediately opened my laptop to write it down. That poem became my wedding gift to Juan and Margo, a tribute to the creativity that first brought Juan and me together. My wife and I plan to have it printed on parchment and framed as a keepsake for them.

Looking back, I feel grateful for the journey that brought us here. It’s not every day that you get to celebrate a love story like Juan and Margo’s, or reflect on a friendship that has stood the test of time. Here’s to them, and to the family we get to choose.

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Beneath the Forgiving Moon

It wasn’t the rush of youth,
not the audaciousness
of fireworks splitting the sky
or the crash of tidal waves
against the shore.

It was quieter than that—
more intimate and organic,
a meeting of two rivers,
carving through time and earth,
finding each other at long last
in the deep, silent valley.

Eyes already lined
by years of laughter,
by shadows of grief.
Words came slowly,
guarded like a secret garden
you weren’t quite sure
you wanted to share.

But you stood there,
patient as the moon,
waiting for the walls to soften.
And hesitant yet hopeful,
you both dismantled your walls,
piece by fragile piece.

Trust came slowly but surely—
like children dipping their toes
into a cold stream,
wondering if it’s safe to dive in.

You spoke of old dreams,
ones you thought were lost,
and discovered they still glowed,
awaiting the right
someone to kindle them.

Juan laughed one night
like he hadn’t in years—
a sound unpolished,
raw, and ringing true.
It was almost startling,
that glimpse of his inner child,
untamed and unafraid.

And when Margo laughed back,
he caught a glimpse of hers—
a little girl, barefoot and free,
twirling beneath the stars.

You told stories,
the kind that have no proper endings—
the scraped knees of youth,
the heartbreaks you thought
you’d never heal from.
And somewhere in the telling,
your ghosts became less heavy.

Now, you see him —
not just the years he’s lived,
but the boy who climbs trees
and builds castles out of dreams.

And you see her —
not just the life she’s worn,
but the girl who chases fireflies
and believes in magic.

Together, you are unfinished,
your stories still unfolding,
two inner children
delighted to play again
beneath the forgiving
light of the moon.

Juan & Margo - January 3, 2025

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Very soon, their life together will be taking them considerably far away from here. Somehow I know our friendship will endure those geographical boundaries to continue on through many more seasons.

Congratulations, on your new life together Juan and Margo!

~Eric Vance Walton~

Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!

(Photos are original.)

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