LJH

I read today that that Thomas Hitzlsperger has outed himself. Thomas is a retired soccer star who once played for Everton, West Ham and Germany and had a mean left goal kick. I admire any celebrity who outs themselves because mostly it paves the way for other celebrities to come out, and break the barriers between what is PERCEIVED to be normal and what is not perceived to be normal. But, I do have concerns. Sport is not the domain of baby makers. Sport belongs to everyone. Heterosexuals are under the impression that sport belongs to them alone. They should get over it. Get a life. Make more gay babies. I understand the reason behind a celebrity who comes out, as I am sure we all do. Michael Johnson who once sat on the Football Association's Advisory Board, has stated that homosexuality is detestable. He fails to recognise that one infallible rule: Sport is Not Exclusive to Heterosexuals. Celebrities fear the backlash. The media prey on stories like this. It is BIG news. Tom Daley (Olympic diver) Anton Hysen (Swedish footballer) Jason Collins (US basketballer) Nicola Adams (British boxer) Orlando Cruz (Puerto Rica boxer) Robbie Rogers (US footballer) Billie Jean King Navratilova And others et al., They are not only stars in their own right, but are standing examples for the gay community. And make no bones about it, the gay community needs stars. And why not? The heterosexual world has its stars. However, in order for us to have our stars, they must twinkle, in other words, come out. But why? Thomas states: ‘I’m coming out about my homosexuality because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards.’ He also states that '...coming out is taboo in the dressing room...' We are living in the 21st Century. Heterosexuals force us to come out because they regard homosexuality as an evil. Taboo. Etc. Disregarding the fact that we are more than able to play sport, or sing, or act and win. They regard themselves as holier than thou when they themselves are prone to more crime, more evil, more perversion than homosexuals. They would be, they are in the majority. Still, why? Here is a comment by a reader of Thomas's outing: A person's sexuality is immaterial to any sport and, quite frankly, nobodies business but their own. You make an effort when you play and give your all to the supporters then you'll do for me. It's 2014 and it's far past the time when people should have moved on and grown up about it. There's no bravery in coming out, there's a warped ideology in the World that makes an issue where none belongs but bravery? No. It's nothing more than being "allowed" by society to actually just be yourself. I don't think society should be empowered with the perceived "right" to make somebody feel they have to explain themselves in their choice of partner, whatever their preference, any more so than "allowing" somebody to fall in love with a blonde, brunette, blue eyes or brown etc etc. So long as it's consenting adults then, frankly, the World in general should keep their nose firmly out of it. It's time we all collectively said in one voice. "Move on. Nothing to see here." And another reader states: We live in a largely ignorant and judgemental world where any difference is perceived as a weakness and attacked. That is why there are probably still many more athletes who would perhaps like to be openly gay but are too sacred about the potential consequences and stigma. Hopefully those that have recently made the decision to come out will make it easier for anyone else who is considering doing so. By moving on, does it mean that we all will EVENTUALLY have the right to be what we want to be? So then parents will not disown us, the army will not send us for aversion shock therapy, we will not be jailed, we will not be put to death, we will not be bullied at school or university, our parents will accept us and we won't commit suicide. When that day comes, please wake me up. I admire David Cameron's tweet to Thomas: As an #AVFC fan, I've always admired what Thomas Hitzlsperger did on the pitch - but I admire him even more today. A brave & important move. I say that homophobia is an illness. It should be treated as such. Maybe a few years in a mental health institution. Maybe straight aversion therapy for homophobics. I say our sexuality is just as important as a heterosexual's sexuality and we should offer no apology for being homosexual. Straights don't go around saying, " Listen mate, I am sorry but I'm straight.' Straights don't go around saying, 'hi, my name is so and so and I am straight.' So, why should we? But we do. Not all of us. But we do. I remember the day when a customer brought her son with her to buy books in my store. We got to chatting and she wanted to know if I was married. I told her yes. She said she would like to meet my wife. I told her I'm married to a man, not a woman. Her son, about 15 years old retorted: 'Wow! Mom, a real gay person, that's amazing, mom.' His mom smiled and said, 'Yes, it is amazing.' That made my day. Thomas Hitzlsperger, thank you.

Wow! Thank you very much for this insight. Melodrama can be cheesy and that iscwhat I want to avoid. Both characters are rational as you have seen. There are moments when he will go off, and that is coming soon. But ja, so far I have been happy with his behaviour. I am limerent with the word limerence. LOL. Glad you are too. And its such an easy word on the tongue too. When I came across it, it became a WOW moment for me. Basil's sanity does play a part here. It's in his art.and the first work of art which he doesn't see as insane, is his current portrait of William. He will show this to William soon. It will b interesting to see his reaction. Imagine is very different. There is pathos. The agony of war. Two characters who come together only thru tragic circumstances. It isn't finished. The sandcastle question to me represents a touch and go kinda thing. In that question I see things like the age gap between the two. The ambition of one character. The longing in the other character. It could all go South for Bazil, but he is willing to take a chance. Italics. Yup, the underlined words are italics. Once again I loved your input. Hugs

Its a tough one. I wish I had been in time to save my ex twenty 6 years back. Brought back a whole flood of emotions. I was five minutes late. Fancy that. Life changed for me then. A HUGE wake-up call. Here, I am overjoyed that Jack was saved. But like four times???!!! Come on Jack, give yourself a damned break now man. You can't keep on doing this. If you do, I am going to have to come to you and sort you out once and for all. Thanks Stephanie.

Thanks Nostalgic. I need to becareful when writing emotions. I don't want it to sink into melodrama. Glad you feel connected to the emotions in the story. Hugs

Thanks Lisa. I am trying to mske it as real as possible.

Thanks Lisa. I am trying to mske it as real as possible.

Sharpening my pencil for more.

Let me stir things up here. I love your post. Now here's what I think. Age 30 and beyond: You should by now have cultivated a career with a substantial salary. You should by now be mature enough to know that 30 is the sexiest age and that you are uber sexy with a mature outlook on life. You should be uber social for business networking. Your attitude to sex and men/women has changed, no longer are you looking for a boy but instead, you want a mature commitment from a mature man. You also realize that anyone younger than yourself is probably only looking for a financial arrangement/relationship. Note:I say probably. Anyone younger than 30 is still a child. Who the hell wants a child? Cradlesnatcher! Anyone under thirty and in a relationship still look around, like grindr for instance. Anyone under 30 lie on a regular basis to get out of a problem.Anyone under 30 has no moral value. Anyone under 30 are all one night stands. Anyone under thirty wishes he was 30. 30 is an awesome age, and any kid who says 30 is old, has no idea at all. Conversation between two people: Over 30: 'Hi, I like your eyes. Can I get you a drink?' Under 30: 'Thanks. How old are you?' Over 30: 'Thirty.' Under 30: 'Double Jack Daniels on the ice. What car do you drive?' So, watch out for anyone under thirty. Goodness, they can't even hold down an intelligent conversation. They have no knowledge of the meaning of life. They do know the meaning of a BJ, but that's about it.They are not birds of a feather. ROFL. Hugs.

Yup, both will be beneficial to the skills list.

Step back. You can’t rely on lust to carry through a relationship and that’s what this man is; relationship material, not a piece of meat dangling before your vision playing with the intense desire in your jeans. Your mind screams out for his body but what will remain afterwards if not Shame and Sadness. For a moment you consider the horrors that will follow. No matter that it’s been four years since your last sexcapade, the hard on will have to wait. He has dreams. He has a goal. He has

Thanks for the observation nostalgic. can't hide anything away from you. LOL. Yes, they have moved fast. But have they. As I said in my reply to Lisa, in my stories, thnings are never as they seem. So let's wait and see what transpires in the next chapter. I'm sure some answers will be given, maybe some surprises, but I can assure you, it wqill be interesting. Maybe devastating.

Thanks Lisa. This is so true when we meet someone and the chemistry confounds. Nope, it's not a dream. I have to make clear the lines between his thoughts and reality. Even then, because I'm dealing with two men who have been deprived of exploring their sexual prowess, moving too fast might not be a bad thing. It's what happens after the sex that is important in this story. Thanks for reading. Hugs

Well. I think both are sexually frustrated. But things are never what they seem in my stories. So you'll just have to wait and see if they really are moving fast in the next chapter. One question yiou might be asking is that why is this all so good to be true?

Thanks Nostalgic. I was trying to get into Basil's mind but happy to see it worked. The promise you might be speaking of comes in the next chapter. Hugs

It’s the promise of what tomorrow will bring that delights you. You’re expecting William to deliver on that promise. You dance in the waves lapping the shore and you play Matt Cardle all night long because you fell in love the first time ever you saw William’s face. Over and over one word replays in your mind tomorrow. Your tummy is aflutter. In those fleeting moments of meeting, the chemistry crackled. Stop dancing. You don’t want to scare him off. Keep your excitement in check tomorrow i

Thank you Jo Ann. Appreciate your input very much. The emotions of loneliness is what I was trying to capture in this first chapter and so glad I was able to pull it off. Ah, Matt Cardle. What a voice and what a looker. He could straddle all over me anytime. Strange, but in the next chapter we hear more about Matt. The First Time Ever is also my favourite. I get goosies whenever I hear it.

Thank you Lisa. I guess one needs to be a little mad to write something like this. Descriptive writing needs a certain kind of aesthetic that a lot of writers can't pull off. So I'm glad you liked it.

Footprints You can’t see that far. The beach and the sea and the sand. White gulls yellow shells and the wind. You watch the rain and the waves and the sun. But he stands out. You watch at a distance from your wooden patio built on stilts so that the tide doesn’t wash away your blue and white house. You watch him swim. You watch him dive. You watch him tan on the beach and you paint the long blond hair the long lean legs the costume straddling his thighs and waist. The lean face with a slig

This is a short story in two or three parts. Basil is an artist. A hermit. He's been hurt far too many times to count. Until he meets THE SWIMMER. An enigma that challenges his sanity.

Thank you Mark, Luc and Sammy. Your skills are added.

The list requires a lawyer, an accountant, a doctor phd, a chemist, dentist, and a space ship engineer/designer. Also a specialist on anything cosmic. Thanks.

Yes. For The Heart of Phillip, number three please.

Thank you Yettie! Gosh, I forgot I write this book. Well, I hope yiu enjoy the rest. Just skip the boring parts.

Descriptive narrative always does it for me. I could see this art deco building in my mind's eye. Sorry you won't be staying. He seems like an amazing character just from his deep voice. I thought I heard him talk too. So lekker to read. Hooked me from the get go. Only one typo. One "your" that should be "you're" otherwise this little snapshot in time was a pleasure. Thank you, Mr. Thomas.

Cia - thanks for pinning. I have added to the list. Thanks folks.