Birthday Hayes All In My Brain
Monday, April 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
In August, I will have been in Denver for 12 years which means at this point I’ve know Hayes for over a decade. I find it hysterical that a few hours after I finish writing this that I’ll be dining with other friends at a — ahem — Red Lobster knowing I first met Hayes in a bowling alley.
We were in a gay bowling league together and I think I made some loud obscure Erasure reference (”La Gloria” from Wild) to another bowler as a joke. Hayes overheard me and struck up a conversation. I didn’t realize at that time that he was less an Erasure fan while more of an Erasure whore. The difference between the two? An Erasure fan you can usually find something that will be a nice gift. An Erasure whore needs some special attention and some extreme creativity because they have everything already.
One year I had an idea and special ordered a multi-colored 12″ single from London after sneakily asking Hayes for a recommendation of his favorite remix. The frame shop was going to glue the vinyl on so I then had to go back and sneakily ask if he had the B-side. Thankfully, he did and I got him something Erasure-esque that he didn’t have.
As you can imagine, it’s getting harder and harder to think of things for him that include his favorite band. This year Lorne, Dan and I went in on getting him two tickets to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors tour at Red Rocks where Erasure will be performing. (He loved them by the way. Now he has to decide who to take.)
Happy Birthday, Hayes! Thanks for being such a great friend for a decade. You came into my life when I really needed some reliability in my social choices. Thanks for helping move into that first apartment when I needed to leave my ex’s quickly. Thanks for your continued support of my improv habit and Monkey’s Uncle. Thanks for allowing me to throw your first surprise birthday party ever the night Ellen came out on national television. Thanks for allowing me to take you to the emergency room the night you sliced your hand open. But mostly, thanks for letting me drive almost exclusively to San Francisco to see Erasure in concert only to get back and find out they confirmed coming to Denver. (Actually, I still love that we sang “Save Me Darling” at the top of our lungs while going over the Golden Gate Bridge.)
Congrats on selling your condo and keeping Dan around for so long, but mostly congrats on your 36 orbits around the sun.
Cheers to one of the best friends I’ve ever had.
P.S. Just to make sure that you readers know he is more than just his love of Erasure, Hayes is also a roller coaster freak.
Listening to: “Waiting” - Green Day
April 30th, 2007 at 2:46 am
aaaaaaaaaaaawe! I got a little teary eyed.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Awww… Shucks… Now you’ve got me blushing! I too am glad that you have become such a great friend! It was exactly 10 years ago today that Ellen came out, and you threw me that surprise party! :) And if you ever feel like being the exclusive driver again, it’s about time for another freakin road trip!
But really, thanks for being such a great friend as well, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am to have friends like you around!
Thanks for making it out to dinner last night, and thank you soo much for the concert tickets! I really was sad to think that I was going to have to miss it this year!
April 30th, 2007 at 8:33 am
and Cyndi Lauper also rocks! Long may your friendship live! (dabbing tears away at sweetness of it all.)
April 30th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Wait, THAT wasn’t funny!?! I thot you were a comedian?!? :-)
That was a nice entry dedicated to Hayes. Not so much because of his birthday, but a tribute to the friendship!! Great friends are sometimes hard to come by. Happy Birthday Hayes and wishing you both many, many more years to come!!
April 30th, 2007 at 8:51 am
happy birthday hayes! sorry i had to miss last night. have a great time at the concert. cyndi is one my absolute favorites! c.
p.s. if there’s a road trip–think dan and i might be included? the four of us playing charater assassination on the road could be quite hysterical…
April 30th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Duck:
Hey! Glad you’re back.
Hayes:
Road trip. Hmmm….
Khlari:
It’s funny that you leave a comment because of found that cake graphic on your site. :)
Robert:
Not all of life is comedy. You have to have the serious to appreciate the funny. (I suddenly feel nauseated.)
Cameron:
Well, you missed Red Lobster, so not really much to miss. :)
April 30th, 2007 at 11:54 am
[...] latter a reality for me! I look forward to the concert!!! I also want to thank Howard to a wonderful tribute post to our friendship over the last decade! It is hard to believe it has been that long [...]
April 30th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Thank you to all who are wishing me a Happy Birthday! It is indeed a happy birthday this year!
April 30th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Yom Huledet, Hayes (that is Hebrew for happy birthday!)
Long Live Hayes…Long Live Erasure.
And Long Live Howard, of course!
April 30th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Let’s Drink Already! That’s HDW for “happy birthday hayes!” - hope you have a fantastic year! Loved reading about your friendship with Howard. And I love you already knowing you love Erasure …
Now, I’m off to listen to “A Little Respect”, thankyouverymuch. :)
April 30th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Guess who’s Birthday is coming in three days. Happy Bday son. Your Mama loves you. Keep up the good work on your website and all you do in life. Aren’t you going to be the big 40 this year? Loves Mom
May 1st, 2007 at 1:14 am
I’m lots of fun on road trips. I always have crossword puzzles and pens. Ooohhh… and I love hanging out with Hotel Folk!!!
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
[...] Howard pointed out in his wonderful tribute post to our friendship, it has been over 10 years now since we first met back at TNML (Tuesday Night [...]