sandeman

" ...wont last a fortnight if they don't get their crap together." Well, so long as they get other things together.

Keep burying your head in the sand Owen, hoping it's all a nightmare and you'll wake up from it on Saturday morning and all will be well with the world. As if. I think I would enjoy following your engagement and sad marriage to Margot and your infinite regret that you really lost out on life and love by doing NOTHING. And from the author a tale of Ryder finding HIS fairytale ending with someone with balls.

Great characters physically attractive respectful of each other and somewhat naive. Sexy entertaining and what fun.

A scenario for some fireworks! Very promising indeed.

O my god! Owen seems to be in danger of swapping a controlling woman for a guy who is beginning to show signs of being a control freak. Do this do that. Ryders threat to crash the party is one of obey me - or else I can make your life hell!. I hope I'm wrong because part of me admires Ryder. But......

"Hi" I said. Which was the stupidest thing anyone had ever said after being kissed like that. He laughed. The real laugh. The one that cracked through everything. "Hi". In a delightful chapter, these were the only words that really matter to them both. They have found each other. Now comes the most difficult and trying part for them. How to extricate Owen from the situation he has put himself in. Not going to be an easy ride!

Gotta love Jo.

I may have said this before but we know a great deal about Owen and nothing about Ryder. Not about his background nor how he is living. We can pass some kind of judgement on Owen. But until we know just what drives Ryder then we cannot do the same for him. We can only hope for the best outcome for both young men.

I feel I must add to my previous comment. I was diagnosed with cancer in my prostate 13 years ago. My psa level was 17. I opted for watchful waiting with 6 monthly checks, and agreement with the cosultant that when it reached a level of 50 I would have treatment. A steady rise of 5 points a year but I experienced no major problems. Two years ago my level was 80 and I agreed to have prostap injections every 3 months. My level has dropped to 0.25. Side effects yes. My partner is not so fortunate. But we have love for each other and in the short run that is all that matters.

This is one hell of a mess. And will be even messier when Ryder finds out just how much Owen has NOT told him. Ryder has his own PAST story to tell but can he forgive the whole PRESENT deception that Owen is hiding ? Didn't they just agree there'd be no more hiding?

How sad to have had a prostatectomy at such a young age. For most men prostate cancer comes in later life and we experience these side effects of treatment whether it is removal of the prostate or hormone treatment. Both my partner and I have prostate cancer and it is so good to have the support of a loving and understanding relationship.

Love the striptease. Great story great fun.

This is the point at which Owen must learn from the kids what life is really about. They are showing him a way. But Theo is the one showing true empathy. Theo "...just stood there being present because that's what Theo did. He showed up. He held on. He didn't ask questions." Come on Owen! You are a fantastic guy and everyone loves you and respects you. But tell Margot to f..k off. You are gay go out and explore!

And so dear reader to bed - no we've already done that .... And so dear reader I married him - no too early in time.....And so we lived happily ever after - yes! YES?

Mannly feels he has "taken enough" from the good folk of the ranch. What he has yet to understand is that everything he has "taken" has been freely and lovingly given to him. There may be rough times ahead but Jake is a rock upon which he can count for support and love.

Whatever way this situation is resolved the fallout from this apalling tissue of lies will be destructive. For Owen and his family and for Margot's too. The only one likeley to come out smelling of roses will be Margot. She will make sure of that. Come on Owen be a man and fess up to this pretence. Then bugger off to where Ryder lives hang around construction sites bike shops diners. For heavens sake do something POSITIVE !!!!

My dear CasualWanderer, This is my letter of love to you. Thank you for a wondrously crafted epic tale, for its imagination from the divine, and for its poetic writing. For a tale AWEFUL in its beauty and AWFUL in its brutality corporeal and spiritual. For a tale of loss and resurrection, of possible redemption but above all of love. Theron started life in ancient Greece; and the ancient Greeks had several words for love, each carrying within itself its own meaning. Philokalia - the love of beauty; Philautia -self love; Storge- the natural love as of parents for their children; Philia- deep affectionate brotherly love; Eros- passionate sexual love; and Agapē the highest form of love, given unconditionally, selflessly even to the point of sacrifice. There are others, but these are the ones you have truly brought into the light of your story. Early in the tale you described the world of Luca and Devin. " Their world, a cruel chaotic dance of uncertainty offered no assurances no guarantees." We all live in this world and change can only be brought about if we offer it our own agapē. A poem I love and in the light of the ongoing relationship of Maker and the Morningstar gives me hope. It is The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson. The quote is from the last stanza. " Alack, thou knowest not How little worthy of any love thou art! Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, Save Me, Save only Me? All which I took from thee I did but take, Not for thy harms, But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms. ......Ah fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest! Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me." Thank you for reaching for my heart and taking it with you on a journey both physical and spiritual. One I shall long cherish. Love, Sandeman.

Aaaaw. In all good tales the hero arrives in time to free the damsel in distress from the oncoming train or circular saw.....( Ooops ! sorry I am a century too early).... Aaaaw. In all good tales the hero arrives in time to free the damsel in distress from the dastardly clutches of the villainous knife-wielding fork!!! Hooray! ( ASIDE. Is there a gay equivalent of damsel? No matter. Timothy is to me a damsel in distress.)

"oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive". Owen's salvation if there is to be one with Ryder is to try to communicate with him. Sadly if Ryder does not want this and Owen cannot find a way then Owen must move on and consider this as part of growing up. We all grow stronger when we take life's lessons to heart. However, perhaps our writer can provide us with a continuation which will provide us with Ryder's story. And fate has a way of bringing people together.

I dont think this reaction was totally unexpected. Both have not revealed anything in their texting. It is impossible to learn everything or indeed anything in such a short space of time. Yes WE know about Owen because he is the narrator. Ryder remains a mystery to us and to Owen.

Very brave step for Owen. Now to find out who Ryder is and what he wants of Owen.

A delight! A heartwarming tale of love spanning age groups. Love knows no bounds.

I choose from this beautiful chapter just " There's somewhere the dark stops". And still I weep.

Timothy is learning the hard way what it is to be a cake. Forks can smell his pheromones. Oliver must take more care of his cake and Timothy must now let Oliver be more protective. I have just consumed a piece of lemon cake with my coffee and I can vouch for its tastiness.!

Great development of the story. A marriage of true minds and of bodies.