Friend #8 - Matan

The Comedian

Week 8.

This was an emotional piece to write. I think it’s because I value my friendship with the Comedian a lot and because he came into my life like a movie character at just the right time.

Matan is to me who Lenny Bruce is to Midge Maisel. This funny man who I met throughout the summer from time to time. He’s 10 years older than me and grew up in Isreal but immigrated to the US when he was in his early 20s for university. He was spending the summer in Toronto.

The first time we met, we sat at a table and he said, “Let’s play a game, make up a story for the people sitting beside us and tell me who they are.”

“Okay. So he’s a software engineer and his wife was a software engineer but she’s spending time at home now with their son, Vadim. They immigrated from Ukraine five years ago,” I replied.

“It must have been difficult for Vadim to assimilate,” he said back.

And then it went on.

To understand his vibe, I’ll share two things. First, he’s not subscribed to this blog even though I’ve asked him numerous times. Second, when we met at a bar once he told me to not make our outing a therapy session. 

But I like him because he understands me.

“I’m bored at work and in general,” I told him.

“Because you’re too smart,” he replied back.

The second time we ever met he wrote out my resume to help me land a new role. Then whenever I’m interviewing for a role, he gets on a call and helps me practice and genuinely expects nothing in return. I have never done anything for him except tell bad jokes.

“Do you think comedians are happy people?” I asked him.

“No, they’re the saddest. The better you are as a comedian, the sadder you are behind the scenes,” he explained.

“So you think happy people can’t be funny? Is Tina Fey secretly sad?” I replied.

“Happy people are the same type of funny. True comedy comes from a dark place,” he said.

“Who is your favorite sad comedian?” I asked.

“Louie.”

“What about happy?” I asked again.

“Doesn’t exist. It’s an oxymoron.”

Anyway, now he’s back in New York but I’ve invited him to my future wedding. I don’t have a picture of us but this is a text I sent my mom once.