The Lights Go Down
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anaïs Nin The message came up on my phone on Saturday morning and caught me completely by surprise. “Heather 420 party .” It was just a brief note I had put in my calendar to remind myself about my friend Heather’s upcoming 420 party. The number, of course, refers to April 20, the official stoner holiday, where marijuana smokers celebrate their love of weed. Heather had lost her partner, Jen, a few years ago. I rarely smoke weed, but I was really looking forward to seeing Heather again. But I didn’t go to Heather’s on Saturday night because she is no longer with us. I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but Heather died earlier this month and now these two bright lights in my life—and so many other people’s lives--are gone. I met Jen and Heather years ago when they came to a solo performance I was doing with a friend at a pe