In praise of gilana

[lillibet]

gilana is one of those people that I knew not very well for long enough that she started to feel like a friend, rather than an acquaintance. Over the past few years, we've actually gotten to know each other better and I have really enjoyed that process. She has a great deal of personal grace, which is a rare and charming quality. She has a lovely voice, is an incredible dancer, is developing as an actor, and is a strong performer. She has the personal courage to perform in front of both strangers and--often more intimidating--friends. She is enthusiastic and creative and energetic. She is very responsible, even when she may not get the credit, and has put a huge amount of work and energy into Theatre@First--a project dear to my heart. She has conviction out the wazoo and is willing to do hard and inconvenient things to satisfy those convictions. Over time I have seen her take more control in her life and be more willing to assert herself. This has led to her seeming to live more fully and also to her exposing more of herself, so that I get to appreciate what an interesting, loving and warm person she is. Her background, beliefs and values are quite different from my own, and it is a great thing that we can disagree on issues both fundamental and frivolous without letting that create a gulf between us.

I look forward to continuing to watch gilana develop more fully into herself and hope that our friendship will continue to develop, as well.