missing mano

last week i got a terrible surprise - my friend marian was moving back to his home in slovakia. i'm not sure how long he's lived in america (seven or eight years) but what i am sure of is that he's been a permanent fixture in my life for 4 years. since i first walked into blues, he's been there, standing behind the bar, pretending to work and harassing the customers. when jesse moved to florida, marian is one of the only reasons i survived. he kept me company when my house felt too big and quiet to stay in for long. i'd go to blues, order a coke and onion rings, and talk to marian. he helped me forget my loneliness and heartbreak and in those few months, we found a friendship that's hard to lose.
however, marian made the decision to move home. this was an excellent decision for him, if i think about it unselfishly. he has a masters in business but couldn't find a job in america due to visa restrictions. he's an intelligent, hard-working guy (when he wants to be) and deserved to do something more than refill alcoholic beverages for a living. he also deserves to find someone special. i think he'll have no trouble in his hometown.
but marian, know that you're missed. i hope you continue reading my blog and emailing me. life just isn't the same without you.