College. In my opinion, EVERYONE should go to college. Yes, there’s the argument that we all need a higher education, to get better jobs, to be more successful, and blah blah blah. That’s crap. Yes, it’s good to learn a thing or two about a thing or two, but the most important thing is the experience. The freedom to find out who you really are. The hundreds of people you meet that otherwise you may have never had a chance to. For me, all it took to make my college experience worthwhile was making one particular friend.
For those of you that know him, you know there is no one else like him. He absolutely epitomizes the word individual. Though many imitate, none can emulate that unique personality. A one-man party, this guy brings a great smile and positive attitude into any room he enters. From his strange vocabulary, to his way with women, to unmatched self-confidence, he is without a doubt one-of-a-kind.
To hear him talk, one would think he was from another planet. His vocabulary is of his own creation, and extremely intriguing. I have never seen a person use the word “real” in more ways in my life! Instead of saying “are you serious?” this guy will say “is that real?” And if you happen to be on his good side, he will refer to you as “the Realness.” The versatility of the word goes on and on. Conversely, if somebody is being stupid, they are being “weak,” or they are “the Weakness.” Then he has a term all his own, and equally complex. It’s strange, because this word can either be in reference to someone he doesn’t like, or one of his closest friends. “Digotin.” The only way you can differentiate the two meanings, is by the inflection in his voice. It’s the funniest thing in the world. And if you are getting on his nerves, you had better watch out, because he will “bust” you. Another of his unique vocabulary words, this comes out sounding more like “bus,” and is very long and drawnout.
As for women, this phenomena I cannot explain. I mean, granted, he is a good-looking guy, but I have NEVER in my life met a person to which girls flock more. From the outside perspective, one could argue that he is a player beyond players. That is quite the naïve characterization, though. Yes, girls throw themselves all over him on an hourly basis, but they leave the party/conversation/house feeling nowhere near as though they have been played. Instead, they feel as though they have made a new friend. It is the craziest thing I have never seen in my life, watching women around this man! I never would have believed the term “girl magnet,” until I met this fellow. He exudes this calm class mixed with a badass attitude that makes girls extremely crazy. His charm is absolutely unavoidable. If he felt so inclined, he could have any girl he chose on this planet, without a doubt.
His confidence is of the sort that every man dreams he could have. I have never seen him in a situation where he wasn’t completely comfortable. Jerry Maguire has absolutely nothing on this guy. He walks into a room, and everyone takes notice. Don’t let his offbeat vocabulary fool you, he is deceptively intelligent. He has this natural business savvy that simply cannot be taught. Always thinking, he sees every angle and knows how to make any and all situations run smoothly. Though we were in the same major, and I may have gotten slightly better grades, EVERYONE in our department knew that this guy had the makings of the next Donald Trump. This guy is just that good.
But there is a side only the select fortunate few of us get to see. Most people see the guy that is the life of the party. Guys want to be him, girls want to be with him. But to his closest friends, he is the world. There is not a single thing this guy would not do for you at any given moment in your life. Lay down in traffic for you? He will without question. He has this uncanny ability to make his friends feel more comfortable, more safe, and more loved. No matter what your situation is, you can look behind you and see him there. He completely defines the word friend, in all ways possible. Personally, I know for a fact that I would not be the man I am today were he not a part of my life. And I am sure there are many of you out there who would say some version of the same.
Mark, updog? You are the Realness, for sure. But don’t be weak, or I will BUSSSSSST YOU… Digotin.
Kenny Salvini 
May i be your friend?
Holy mother of pearl, i swear, i just met someone like your mark! He\’s 27, greek and \’making a living\’. I bought a house from him, came home and raved to all ears about this young man who was discrete yet completely open. Not in a million yrs would i have known this young man and i left the closing completely charmed. Everything you wrote about mark i saw in valanti. You know, my lasting thought is, i gotta get out more! Loving your blog.
I have been reading your blogs for a week now and I have to say that you are a very talented writer. You have a gift that can touch a lot of people. You should consider working for a magazine and doing a monthly or maybe writing a book, your writing is that good. About friends, they are awesome aren\’t they. I have a few friends that are like that, always there for you and always ready to cause trouble and then get you out of it. You are a great guy for recognizing those traits in your buddy and being open enough to express your feelings about him. You and your friend definitely seem to be real.I was reading what you miss most and couldn\’t agree with you more about the things that matter in life. I get a lot of crap from people because I am a bit of a dreamer and tend to be late (I can\’t function without my shower and would be late to my own wedding to get it). People classify me as ditzy because I am optimistic and tend to love the silly crap in life like blowing bubbles and wearing goofy hats. (My dad died when I was 15 and made me rethink my values a little young) It\’s too bad that we have to have tragic things happen in our lives to shake us up and make us realize how quickly we can lose the "silly crap" and how much we\’ll miss it. Your attitude towards life and your ability to keep your spirits up when faced with a very difficult situation is amazing. You may miss a lot of things in life but one thing you haven\’t lost is your spirit and your voice, don\’t forget that. You have a gift that is touching many people while it\’s helping you adjust. You can also feel something very important, someone\’s hand on the back of your neck as they press their soft lips against yours and you breathe each others breath. To me that\’s the best feeling.
You definitely find out how extremely important your friends are – you did a great job. I\’m fairly sure my friends are the only reason I\’ve managed to live this long (as well as some GREAT Doctors – who are also friends). take care buzz
You majored in Engineering?!?! That explains your obvious intelligence. I went to the wrong school. All of my engineering guy pals were geeky – and great for Saturday night RPG parties.
Kenny you are a great inspiration, thank you!! Mark, thank you for being such a great friend to Kenny. I hope more people in the world adopt your sense of being real. It\’s all about love and acceptence of all the circumstanses we all face in our lives. I wish we could all embrace them with the dignity and truth you both do. I love you guys and thanks for being real. love debs
I hope you find the peace and love that you need …. many kisses Zare
your friend sounds like a top bloke, the world needs more like him! You seem to say all these nice things about him, i bet he says amazing things about you as well!hope all good things come to youlove cassie!stay strong!
I think that we all have people like that in our lives….. It takes a creative and intelligent person to express it on paper or through typing. I am truly motivated by your blog I believe that it has inspired me to live life to the fullest every day. Thank you for making me realize this.
Kenny! I had to make a comment on your message about making money through different ads. (by the way, I loved that blog) PLEASE oh Please don\’t ever mention *Right Guard* again. It is one of the banes of my life! I have even passed people in the mall and after smelling their *Right Guard haze* that surrounds them, had to hold myself back from racing after them and pleading, "PLEASE don\’t use that product". The smell takes me back to high school, where in the gym locker rooms everyone would be spraying their sweaty pits, trying to mask the stink created in the last 45 minutes of gym class. The over powering scent of Right Guard, combined with years of stagnant body odors made for a nauseous combo that will forever cling to my mind. You realize that *smell* is one of our strongest corrolators to time and place. Who amoung us has not smelled something that transported us immediately back in time? If I can stop one new budding adolescent from starting to use *Right Guard* my missive here will be successful! laughing You are edging into *Oprah like* adulation so you must take time to contemplate the idems that you casually mention in your infamous blog. *We* don\’t want you to accidentally lead people astray. 🙂 Fighting for fresher air…… Denise <lol> P.S. The new love of Your life is waiting around the corner. Each of us meet different people during our lifetime. Each person shares & teaches us what we need at that time and place. You Sir have much to look forward to and experience. You will see! Holly, Helen, or Heather is out there waiting to share a lifetime of love and laughter with You.
You are truly a great inspiration. Take care & God Bless… Bobbi-Jo
Thanks for making me cry.
damn kenny good job on making a direct hit on the "WEAKNESS" as i call him out of love I consider mark my best friend and you hit it on the head as well as starting the first pages of the Mark Presleigh dictionary. I would like to read your take on how to explain the "chin" I.E: sup\’chin, Foot\’chin and I will also add "fachoed, tiggoes, diggo, cakes, mosa-soma-none a tha—good" great job you are the poop