Once in a while, it’s nice to know you’re appreciated. It’s nice to know you’ve done something to be proud of and sometimes you get the acknowledgement you deserve. I would like to publicly congratulate my very good friend and confidant Mark Condupa. Mark is about to see all his dreams realized.

A little background info: Mark has been a close friend of mine for years. I’m not sure exactly when our friendship began, and I’m not sure he he knows either. The important thing is that our friendship has strong roots. Mark was always the realist, he saw things as they were and called them out. Maybe that’s why I liked him so much. Throughout the years this has never changed. He’s still the same hopeless romantic wiseass he always was. But in many ways, he’s changed.

As we’ve grown up, we’ve started to realize who we are and who we’re going to become. At the beginning of 2008, we both made resolutions. Even though I encouraged him, Mark seemed uncertain that his resolutions would come to be. As the days progressed into the new year, he began to see things as I saw them: optimistic. He had three great job potentials in New York, LA, and Chicago. Knowing what a brilliant person Mark is, I knew he would land one of them. Obviously I was rooting for him to get the job in Chicago since I’m heading there,  but I’d be thrilled for him no matter what.

Mark’s other uncertainty: Love. Isn’t that the greatest uncertainty of all? After seeing the risk and lengths I took for love, and then saw how happy I was, Mark also took a chance. And with the results I had predicted. It was worth the risk.

So only eight weeks into the new year, Mark landed the job in New York and the girl. I chuckle when I think of how he doubted me when I said, “Just wait, this is the year for great things.” Who said dreams don’t come true?

Mark, I am so proud of you. You’ve done well, its time to leave the suburban dreams behind and live the big city life. You’ve inspired me to do what you’re doing. Don’t ever lose focus of what you want. You know how to get it. Just have confidence that you deserve it. Your mom would be so proud of who you’ve grown up to be. Congratulations once again on everything, you deserve it.

Mark’s blog can be found here. He’s a wonderful writer, I encourage everyone to check it out.