When I was in the process of drawing Best Friends Too I was, at one point, visiting Josh at the store he manages. There were no customers at that moment so I was sitting across from him at his sales table. As I was drawing, a UPS (United Parcel Service) guy came in with a package for them. He saw my drawing and complemented me. Since it was in my drawing book, I showed him my others as well. This unknown guy even went to the store right next door and brought back one of the workers to see.

The UPS Guy asked me why I didn’t do it for a living. I told him that it was because noone ever hired me. He said he had to go but that he’d look for something for me to draw for him and send it to me per Josh.

A few weeks later Josh told me he died.

I have no idea what his name was but, though he probably just though it being nice, it really impacted me. I know I draw well but I don’t get much attention for it and (besides my $5 school drawing year; whole other story) I’ve never been hired for it at all. The extent of my “career” is gift drawings and a few unrewarded art shows. That someone cared enough to pay attention, let alone that he was going to get me to draw something for him, meant a lot.

I’m ashamed to say that when I first found out he died, I didn’t feel much. I’ve gone through death a lot myself so I’ve become kind of numb about it. But over the past few months since then, this unknown UPS Guy has resurfaced in my thoughts a lot.

So, I’m dedicating Best Friends Too to him. To someone who took the time out of his life to care about somebody else.