#30ThankYous Day 2: Will Ledesma

Dear Will,

Okay, I admit, this feels a bit weird since I can (and should) just text you or call you. But I want to take the time to let you know how much your friendship means to me, and I think more people should know about what a legitimately good guy you are.

You started at OBU as a freshman when I was a senior, and thanks to our both being part of the Theatre Department, we were thrown together quite a bit during that year. You always seemed like a pretty cool guy, and I enjoyed getting to know you, but we didn’t really get close until later. I had come back to Shawnee during that first year after graduation, mainly to pick at some old emotional wounds, and over the course of the weekend, I got a bit more than I bargained for. I was frustrated, sad, feeling lonely, when you did something incredibly kind: you said, “Hey, have you ever seen Homestar Runner?” And we proceeded to watch internet videos for what I recall being a couple of hours. It was exactly what I needed at the moment.

When you and your wife moved down here and started your family, it was really a blessing to me. Getting to be your friend and hang out with you, even if only a few times a year, was and is a great joy in my life. Your friendship has been a source of encouragement to me, and inspiration. You are funny, patient, and kind. You love your family dearly and are willing to do whatever it takes to take care of them; that’s inspiring to me. You also love creating art and telling stories, and you have the utter courage to “ship” what you make instead of just talking about it, like I do. (I still think you should publish that novel.) And when you are able to bring your brilliant ideas into the world, you invite your friends to come play along with you, whether on stage or screen.

Over the last two years, you have poured your sweat and tears and money and time and sleepless nights into Presto! Fairy Tales and by sheer force of will (pun fully intended), you have created a family of characters and actors, not to mention a slowly-but-steadily-growing fan community. You did this, man. And it’s not because 50+ local actors are all that super-jazzed about obscure fairy tales. It’s because we believe in YOU, in your passion and your commitment and your love of story. You made us believe in this project, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

I’m proud to be part of the Presto! family, and I’m even prouder, immensely prouder, to call you my friend. Thanks for being there for me when I needed it. I hope to be half as much of an encouragement to you as you are to me. God bless you, my brother.

–Dave

[Side-note to readers: If you haven’t checked out Presto! Fairy Tales, do us a favor and click the Youtube link above. Like, share, subscribe, and support an amazing project by a really quality group of actors.]