I would like to thank John Maus for the miraculous friendships I have forged through the gleaming vessel of his music. Perhaps one day I will get to thank him personally, but for now I can only say I feel strongly that there is a real community element to his 'fanbase,' or whatever you want to call it.
In the past couple of years I have connected with so many people on the (seemingly tenuous) basis of this mutual appreciation for John Maus and discovered our commonalities run deeper than I could have ever expected. I've befriended someone I first encountered on these very forums and now she is like an honorary sister to me. We email, go to shows together, watch 80's films together and get drunk together.
Similarly, I have 'met' people online from Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and, most recently, Sweden, who all have a sincere desire to connect and earnestly, enthusiastically discuss this music with me (formerly a complete stranger!) and what it means to them. I will get a random friend request on a social networking site and think 'who are you?,' before checking them out and seeing a photo of John on their profile, and then, somehow they are all invariably decent, intelligent and otherworldly talented people whom I feel privileged to talk with.
So, thank you, John Maus, and thank you, friends.
:delaware: 
