So, I have been gone for a while. Blogging was not on my radar as we had bigger things going on, but I am back and fired up!

I felt compelled to write again after watching the Netflix documentary Will & Harper with Will Farrell and his friend Harper Steele.

First of all, what a fabulous name Harper Steele is. It is a beautiful name with literary meaning (watch the documentary to find out). Honestly, I love well-thought-out names. See my previous blog on what’s in a name?

I absolutely loved this film. It is about two friends who decide to travel cross-country through the United States, and one just happens to have recently transitioned. Needle scratch. Gulp!

Harper sent emails to all her friends informing them of her new name and look, and Will took it upon himself to offer to go on a road trip with Harper to help be a buffer for whomever they encountered along the way.

Hence, the trip ensues, and so do the experiences. Some were cringy and downright awful, while others were heartwarming and brought genuine tears to my eyes.

One thing I did find interesting was that some of the places I thought would be terrible were not. I found myself recognizing that people are people, after all, and when put face to face with someone, they are more likely to connect on a personal level that is kind and genuine.

We must remember that most people have a variety of life roles, and they can fall into several categories that require them to think about what type of example they are leaving. Being a parent, teacher, grandparent, or just a human being is complicated, and as our world is ever-changing, we must evolve with it. Or so we hope.

However, online is a different story, and I found it appalling and infuriating what some people were shown to say behind a keyboard. They are true cowards in my mind, and I do not want to write much more about them as they are a waste of good energy and time.

Throughout the show, I found myself saying, “I need to do a road trip like that.” Not only did I love their comradery, but I was also appreciative of the way both Will and Harper took the time to pay attention to not only the people but also the landscape and beauty of North America.

They supported each other and also learned a lot along the way.

All in all, it was a wonderful love letter to friendship and travel in the United States, and I found myself so happy to spend 90 minutes with them. I have faith we are making slow strides back to love, patience and understanding. ❤

“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” — Jim Morrison