run, jaron, run.

for my beautiful thing of today, i'm going to tell you a little bit about one of my best friends, jaron bernstein.

jaron lives in chicago. we went to middle and high school together. we've done eight million things together, but what brought us close was theatre. jaron is an unbelievably talented actor. i've thought so forever, and even now, when i feel more disconnected from acting than ever, i would love to work with him again. more than that, he's an extraordinary friend. he returns messages, calls me wasted from chapel hill to remind me he loves me, adores my husband and makes him feel at home in our group of friends and with his family, is thoughtful and lovely and funny. even when we drive each other crazy, he's one of my favorite people in the world.

last year, he lost his dad to pancreatic cancer. like jaron, his dad was a very special human being, one remembered only with fondness. it was so fast, too: i can remember the moment jaron told me about diagnosis, and the short months that flew by too quickly before he was gone.

so what i want to write about is what jaron is now working on. because when i lose people i love, and trust me, i've never lost someone i'm as close to as jaron was to his dad, i mope. i clean my house and that's about the extent of any great effort i might make. i sink into sadness until i'm ready to return to the world of the living.

but jaron has grace beyond his years. in honor of his amazing dad, he's running a marathon this thanksgiving weekend. it accomplishes so much: it will raise money for pancreatic cancer, it is an homage to his father's love of healthy living and exercise, and it is a hugely positive action in the face of enormous loss. before he set this goal, he'd never run more than three miles.  i've been following his training, the ups and downs, trials and victories, of pushing your body and soul to the edge of its capacity, and i am so proud of him, and lucky to call him my friend.

i'm posting a link to his personal fundraising page. please, whether you know him or not, pause to consider whether you might be able to donate anything to this beautiful cause. i know it would mean so much to him, and it would absolutely mean the world to me. you can find his page here.

jaron, i'm rooting for you and remembering your dad, and, as usual, am one sappy hot mess.

love,
j