#30, Matthew.

We fondly called you the "Gay White Aborigine". You had amazing earlobe stretchers, lots of beautiful tribal tattoos and facial hair worthy of a mountain man. You were skinny, and wore jeans, boots, and old Neurosis shirts with the sleeves cut off. And sometimes vests. You were vegan, but admitted to munching on pork rinds when your mom would send them to you from home in Louisiana. You openly stated that you couldn't stand glitter, but always made the exception for me, even letting me into your van (which usually contained: Neurosis in the tape deck, hand-beaded bone and feather necklaces hanging from the rearview mirror, and the strong smell of sage and patchouli) to drive me home on numerous occasions. Once, we ate a mango together outside the building, cut with your pocket knife. A highly-treasured item with super-secret status that floated around the art store was a picture of you, at seventeen or so, with long hair and no facial hair, grinning broadly into the sun ("No way, that's not Matthew!"). You were always drinking whiskey and inviting us to bonfires out on the beach in San Francisco. Last i heard you moved back to Louisiana. Hope you weathered the hurricane(s) alright. Miss you, Matthew.