Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I Heart Candy Like a Cuban Hearts Miami

What does it mean to be a friend? Can you love someone you've never met?

These are questions I sometimes ask myself as I ponder this fleeting thing called life. When I want to know the answers I think about my good friend Candace Ganger.

We were having a discussion the other day over on my buddy Bryan's blog about strong female characters who do not give up their femininity. I made a comment that the two attributes that I consider strongest are courage and honesty, and that these are by no means masculine traits.

Candace is the most honest person I know. Her courage to share the truth about her life, and the joy and suffering that comes with it, knows no bounds. She often posts the raw deep truth about what she thinks and feels on her blog and I am honestly often shocked by how brave this woman is. I've always considered myself a very open, honest and righteous dude, but these traits don't shine nearly as bright for me as they do for Candace.

Before I go on, and it's not my place to go into why I'm writing about my friend today, please go visit her blog, the Misadventures in Candyland, become a follower, and read her posts. Go ahead, check the archive, you will NOT be disappointed.

...

You back? Did you read this one? What about this one? And this, this and this?

See what I mean? I've never known a person who can be so funny and so brutally honest at the same time. I can't quite put a finger on what makes Candace so great, it's difficult for me to put into words, but I think the best way that I can say it is that she is so motherfunkin human. So kind, so real, so damn funny, and so everloving beautiful (yes Erik, she is also very pretty but that's not what I meant).

Candace, we love you. We need you in our lives. We can't get enough. Here's a video just for you (only Candace is going to have any idea what this has to do with anything, and that's just fine):



If Candace inspires you too, or even if you've never heard of her but you think that courage, honesty, and an incredibly deep wealth of philanthropic giving is an example worth emulating, then you should really visit these other blogs. All of these people are good friends of mine, but this isn't about us, it's about how much Candace has touched each of our lives, and how much we hope and pray that she finds all the success, happiness, literary representation, and New Medicine she deserves:


WE GOT YOU!

32 comments:

Jessica Bell said...

That was lovely, Matt! :o)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Great post Matt. It's important that we support each other and share about other bloggers we like to help each other out. I'll check out your suggestions.

Stina said...

As soon as I saw your title, I knew who you were going to be talking about. A very sweet post, Matt!

Shannon said...

Great post, Matt. Candy deserves all of this blog love.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

That was wonderful Matthew. Candace holds a special spot in many of our hearts. I pray that 2011 brings her much happiness.

Tracy said...

At least Candy has so many people pulling for her and sending good karma her way this year. :D

DEZMOND said...

Candace seems like a very nice person!

Kelly Polark said...

Awwww, what a sweet post, Matthew! Candace is indeed an amazing, strong, funny person. I'm so glad she has her blog friends for support!

Lindsay said...

Aww, that was wonderful. I'm tearing up reading about all the love for Candace. She really is a wonderful person.

Team Candyland forever!

Bryan Russell said...

I already saw Jessica's post and stopped on by Candyland. I've always liked worthy causes. :)

JE said...

You're so sweet, Matt. And I love Candace, too!

What a nice post. Now I will have to go check out Jessicas. ;-)

~JD

Melissa said...

This is so wonderful. you guys are so awesome for being there for her!

Christina Lee said...

So lovely of you, Matt! I'm sure you are also a cherished friend!

Anonymous said...

Candace is really too awesome for words. I feel lucky to have found her blog :-)

Sarah Ahiers said...

i totally think it's her honesty that makes her so great. The humor helps, of course, but it's like just the icing on the delicious cake.
As a tight lipped minnesotan, i'm always in awe of her honesty

Anonymous said...

I love that you guys are celebrating your friend. Everyone deserves to be appreciated for who they are.

Candyland said...

Sister Tim, without you, I am nothing. Well, I'm still me, but you know, less ME. I was s hoping to see you break dancing but that video will do.

Lovelovelove you.

Melissa Gill said...

I totally agree Matt. Canadace is one of a kind and very special. Where a lot of people force down their suffering until it erupts like a volcano (**no, not me, I'd never do...) Candace lets hers out and she's able to deal with it. I really admire her.

Katrina L. Lantz said...

Aww, this is so sweet. It is truly humbling to see the genuine love out there for Candyland. It's what I love about you guys in this relatively small blogging community-- real love. Real support. And the best kind of honesty, the kind that heals. Thank you for sharing it with us.

PK HREZO said...

What a lovely tribute, Matt. It takes courage to be honest.. an both are astounding qualities.

Tracey Neithercott said...

Thanks for your follow and comment. As a new blogger I appreciate the visit!

This was a gorgeous post and probably the best introduction to your blog. It was so heartfelt and sweet.

Lenny Lee said...

hi mr matthew! thanks for sharing out such nice words bout miss candace for for loving her. shes just real special. i love her too!
...hugs from lenny

ali cross said...

You're a giver, Matt! And I agree, Candace rocks. :)

Joanna St. James said...

oohh why didn't someone warn me its love a candy day?
She is the most hilarious blogger i know, good to see am not the only one she makes smile.

Dawn Ius said...

A great post about a great lady. Nice, Matt. Candy deserves lots of love.

Carol Riggs said...

Great tribute and bloggy love! Sure, I think you can love someone you've never met. It may be a slightly diff "love" than one in person, but there can definitely be a whole-hearted admiration and pleasure in communicating with that person, even if they are located in cyberspace.

Here's to good cyberfriends in 2011!

Chris Phillips said...

great post.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

She's ceertainly receiving the love today!

Colene Murphy said...

She IS loved! Great post. Wonderful tribute.

Vicki Rocho said...

So much love flowing in the blogosphere today.

Nicole Zoltack said...

Awesome post, I'm really feeling the Candace love around the blogsphere.

Abby Minard said...

Aw, what a wonderful thing to do for Candace. I can tell you guys are great friends.