BFF

1979: Mark and Kenny in Scottsdale the summer my family moved to Arizona.

Here's wishing my best friend, Mark, a very happy 40th birthday! Mark and I met back in 1978 at Cedar Lake (Michigan) during the dreaded (mandatory) sixth-grade camp. While all the other boys were having a blast playing dodge ball, I was taking a break under a tree dreaming of some moisturizer (that ball makes your hands so dry) convinced I'd sprained one of my fingers. (Why are we throwing a ball at one another???) Who should I find hiding out near the tree as well but my kindred spirit, Mark. It only took about five minutes before a lifetime friendship was solidified (he cheered me on later in the week during my first drag performance, in a L'Eggs Underalls parody on skit night) and we've never looked back. I honestly don't know where I'd be today with Mark's friendship -- he's a truly special guy.

2006: Mark and Kenny Kenneth outside the old New York Times building on West 43rd Street.