Pages

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Meerkat Moment #4 (dear Goddess, the book is almost done!)


A brief explanation from the site itself because I don't have time to write something myself but, damn, this is too important to not get up immediately.

Yes, I know some of you are thinking… but there’s already a similar project out there! Well, yes there is but (the co-creators of the project) wanted to be sure everyone’s voice is heard, that everyone is able to share their story in the hopes it would give strength to others who are dealing with coming out, being out and bullied as well just for being who they are.

For the rest, click the link up there.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and save a life.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Wilbur and Rex

My grandfather and my father.

One died when I was 22. The other, still unbelievably, died only five years later. How either of those things are fact is still a shock to me at times. I mean, I'm not supposed to live in a world without Wilbur and Rex in it. But I do.

I'm not sure why they have been on my mind so much recently. Perhaps it is because I am really indescribably happy these days ~ for the first time in so many years, possibly as many years as they have been gone ~ and it's weird to be this happy and not be able to pick up the phone and share it with them. Perhaps because I have a birthday coming up. 41. And I am rapidly approaching living without them as long as I lived with them. Perhaps because the adventures are so cool right now and they would love them, and would love living them along with me, so very, very much. Maybe because I am loved and I love as much as I once was/did when they were in my everyday world.

But I know I have been thinking of them recently, more than usual, and missing them but in a good way, not the painful, heart-wrenching way is has been in the past. Lithus asked me who the three of us were to each other. First, it seems impossible to me that Lithus doesn't know. He knows everything about me; how can he not know this one, most important of all things? But second...how do I answer that question? Who were Wilbur and Rex and Charlie to each other? 

They made me who I am. First and foremost, I am their granddaughter and their daughter. Everything good about me comes, directly or indirectly, from one or both of them. We were the three generations of us. Other than that, I can't help you. You either saw it and knew it; you understand that statement instinctively; or...I leave you confused and in the dark because there is no way to describe who the three of us were to each other. Luckily for me, Lithus understood instinctively. There's a reason he's my partner, after all.

So I live the latest chapter in my adventure, overlooking the city lights of Anchorage of all places, and I hear their incredulous laughter in the distance ("Alaska? Are you serious? Do you know how cold it is up there?"  "You have to send me pictures. You will, won't you, Charlie?"). And I trust in the man who loves me now and wonder at the fact that I love him back, and know the men who loved me first would be so pleased and love him, too. And I write romance novels and laugh at myself because I am so not a romance novelist and know how amused and proud they would be of me and how embarrassed to know so many of my characters are based on the relationships they had with the women they loved and married and dedicated their lives to.

And I miss them. In a happy, melancholy, bittersweet way that is overridden by the fact that I am honored to have known them, honored to have been the final piece in the puzzle that was the three of us. But mostly, I love them still, and am a grateful granddaughter and daughter, even all these years later.












Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Political Addendum

So, a couple days ago, I meerkatted up long enough to write this about the It Gets Better Project. I have since learned why people loathe Dan Savage. And guess what? I'm no longer simply amused by him. His racism and white privilege is astounding.

I still support the program. Because of who I am, my history, the history of many people I love, I cannot not back any program that is aimed toward keeping kids from killing themselves. At the same time, I have to call Dan Savage out on his isms.

As the facilitator of this program, it is his responsibility to actively pursue people of color and transgendered people to speak out here. If he truly wants to impact all LGBT teens and not just the ones who look like him or come from his same background, then he needs to do that. To refuse to be passive about it. Otherwise, he's not doing his stated job and he's certainly not having his intended impact.

The program is good. Again, I won't speak out against a program hoping to keep kids alive. The program is no where near complete, no where near good enough. Step it up, Dan.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

September 26th

...and it's snowing?????

Seriously?

Seriously?

Welcome to Alaska.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Meerkat Moment #3

I am on the fence about Dan Savage. Some people I know loathe him. Some people I know love him. Me? Eh...when I used to live in the PDX area and would read the Portland Mercury, I wouldn't skip him. His sex advice column amuses me. I haven't read anything else by him since leaving his local area. Because I don't love him, but not because I loathe him either. Because I'm more...eh.

Until now. For this, I have become a fan. In response to the teenage suicides among the LGBT community, he has started the It Gets Better Project. It's a way for adult LGBTQs to talk to teenage LGBTQs, right now, while they are going through the bad times that call themselves high school. A way for these kids, who are hurting so much, to hear that It Gets Better.

Pass it on. It's important.

Those are Pobble Thoughts (about Dan Savage's project). That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and may save a life.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Military Meerkat Moment

Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger received the Congressional Medal of Honor today. As well he should have. 42 years ago, in a country he needn't have been in, doing a job no one had any business asking of him, he did the unthinkable and not only got everyone onto that helicopter before himself, but he kept them all alive for God only knows how long under God only knows what kind of the darkest of conditions. Another something that struck me though, was the statement that his wife had known all along where he was and what he was doing ~ and she had kept his secrets for him, even after his death. I understand that. I respect that. I live that and let me tell you, it isn't the easiest thing in the world. I'm glad he's getting the recognition he deserves.

And today, the Senate voted against even starting a debate to discuss if they should vote on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We can't even talk about talking about it apparently. I'm going back into my hole and grumble. Sometimes, meerkating is worth it (thank you, CMS Etchberger). Sometimes, it just pisses me off (yeah, I'm looking at you Senate).

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Happy Anniversary

Apparently, Boston was founded today in in 1630. Happy Anniversary old girl.

"Old Boston with its zigzag streets and multitudinous angles, (crush up a sheet of letter-paper in your hand, throw it down, stamp it flat, and that is a map of old Boston) — new Boston with its miles upon miles of large and costly houses — Beacon street, Commonwealth avenue, and a hundred others. [...] The New England metropolis of to-day may be described as sunny, (there is something else that makes warmth, mastering even winds and meteorologies, though those are not to be sneez'd at,) joyous, receptive, full of ardor, sparkle, a certain element of yearning, magnificently tolerant, yet not to be fool'd; fond of good eating and drinking [...]."

~ Walt Whitman, Specimen Days

And that's why I love my town.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee (preferably from the Copley Square coffee coffee guy).

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I'm Here! I'm Here!

I'm in crunch time. Writing like mad and loving every minute ~ although I'm not sure Lithus is. Deadline is October 15. I'll try to post more between now and then. For now, I'm here! Anchorage is GREAT. Life is even better.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.