I honestly don't remember the moment I met her

It had to be the summer before I entered high school –let's say 1979. Our high school's theatre department produced a remarkable seven shows a year and Jodie was the reigning Queen.

As I had experience running the show in both community and semi-professional theatre, I knew that I would soon be the King to her Queen. It wasn't long before we were inseparable, and in high school – if you're a boy + girl + inseparable it means you're dating.

By sophomore year
we were the 'It' couple

For six months (ten high school years) we were royalty, Most Likely to Get Married according to the year bookies.

Jodie, a Senior and I, younger (but ahead of my time in ways of master chorale and theatre) were a force to be reckoned with. But only in the theater hall. Everywhere else, I was called a “fag” and pushed into every locker on campus.  

Ah, but in the theater, I was master of my domain, lord of the stage, noble ruler with my queen right by my side.

Jodie and I broke up just before her graduation 

And I, had to figure out how to maintain a semi-straight image without her as my mate. Later, people who knew me during that time, would tell me how brave I'd been to be “out” in high school. Meanwhile, I thought I'd been doing a bang-up job posing as that straight drama geek.

Our frienship survived. I finished high school and Jodie entered college, and the misty water-colored memories of these glory days are forever edited in my mind like a movie montage of big '80's hair and questionable fashion choices.

We were sitting by Jodie's apartment complex pool
the day I told her I was gay.

This did not come as a shock to her. What did come as a shock was that my boyfriend, a local celebrity, was 11 years my senior.

Our first Jack + Jill + boyfriend lunch was a bundle
of enthusiasm and fear

Would she see his potential for a long-term relationshipdom or would she write him off as just another fling?  I should've listened to her reservations, but I was neon 80s green (not ahead of my time in ways of boy + boy dating) and frankly Jodie wasn't doing a whole lot of taking my advice either, as she threw herself into yet another bad romance.  

As the boyfriends paraded into our lives, they were subjected to a battery of our Jack + Jill dating-litmus tests. The one thing we did know – our friendship wasn't going anywhere. The men in our lives either had to accept that we were a package deal, wound around one another tighter than a Twizzler.. or keep 'on marchin'.

The amazing part of having a friendship that's lasted over 30 years is that at some point you stop defining it.  It simply becomes part of your code, your soul DNA. I recently realized that I have more photos with Jodie than without. Paging through and giggling at three decade's worth of embarrasing snapshots tells 'our story' better than words.

So, what's our secret?

The truth is I don't know. I think it's just one of those things you never know.. it just happened.

We're there for each other again and again and forever more. We never hang up or end a text-snit angry. We love unconditionally. Even if it means giving more than taking in good times, and taking more than giving (and not feeling guilty about it) in bad. 

It's not a fairy tale, not even myth – just the happily ever after of a fairy and his miss.

About the author: Scott Rosenzweig A self-styled Gaytriarch that gives fabulous advice (both solicited and unsolicited) suitable for any occasion, this actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, writer, corporate survivor, perfect party guest is a Jack of many trades. React, interact and more with Scott on Facebook, twitter and his website, www.somelikeitscott.com. Voted one of The Advocate Readers' Top Ten Blogs!