sojourn

I remember my boys talking about "icky girls" that was four grandsons ago. Some tastes change as we grow. Thanks for taking your time to write a comment.

and so we see the story grow with characters that insist on speaking for themselves. This was to have been a one chapter story for competition for gay short stories. When the competition fell apart, I found myself listening more closely to Jeff, Paul, and Maria. thanks for your comments Jim

I know a reader is enjoying my tale when they plan or have hopes for the future of favorite characters. thanks for commenting, Jim

I have been flattered by the positive reception my stories have received. I know that money is not the root of all evil, it is the lust for money which allows evil to take root. (If that is a quote, let me know the source, else I might think I uddered a profundity. 😉 Thank you for commenting. Jim

Thank you,

It has long been my opinion that people are basically neighborly if given the chance. I also believe that most people could care less about whether a good man is gay or straight. It is the hate mongers seeking to gain power that holds back diversity and equality in all its forms.

I love astute readers that get it. 😉 Thanks, Jim

It is always fun to see the interest in my story reflected in well worded comments. When I read this it makes me want to get back and chat with the Adams family, snap, snap, snap, snap. LOL Thanks again for you comments

your comment made me realize this chapter was busier than I recall. Thanks, Jim

This is the first time I have allowed that level of violence in one of my stories. I have written of rape and certainly showed the life altering damage rape can do. Here, it was a matter of self defense and it was in part an homage to the violence gay men have been subjected to because of our society's distaste for gays. Not justified but is is part of my reasoning. thanks for you comments. Jim

I do check and try always to say thanks for comments. I actually worked backward on my notifications. Thank you for the insightful comments you have made in the following chapters... (rolling my eyes and laughing my ass off at that line.) Thanks for commenting on this chapter as well. lol. still giggling about "comments on future chapters". Jim

It just occurred to me because of your observation that Julie's unfiltered dialogue is perhaps a key to her sight. Instead of saying what we feel, we think and couch our words so that the honesty is masked. Perhaps we would all "see" clearer if we used fewer filters. Thanks for the comments, Jim ps wish you had been sipping a beverage. lol

I appreciate your insights. You are most kind. Thank you, Jim

even now that makes me smile.

LOL! It never occured to me to pace the story or even ... well anything really. It started with a man and I did not know what he looked like so I had him look in a mirror... and now you hint at the idea that I paced the drama. Thank you. I will take that and agree wholeheartedly. In truth, I right what I feel. I have no training, and not much education. I feel I know people and how they most likely react. The characters and story write themselves. A romantic. thanks for your comments I am still chuckling at one having a heart attack from reading my story. (I certainly do not want that to happen.) I played on camera with a man in New Zealand recently. Two months later, he let me know he blamed me for his shingles. He felt that our play time was the most intense and when the doctor brought up stress, he thought of me. I gave him shingles over a video link half a world away... so why not a heart attack from reading my story. it did leave me smiling, Jim

I like when a story engages the reader to imagine beyond. Thanks for posting. Jim

I have a collection of "vintage" men some obviously in a loving embrace that most people insist meant nothing but freindship. Tell that to Hadrian and Alexander the Great. thanks for posting your thoughts. Jim

LOL. gotta love Julie

even now it is reassuring to read such comments. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Jim

I believe that any expression that challenges anyone or anything should be examined. It is difficult to "tell the dancer from the dance". People feel if you question their belief you are attacking them. Perhaps it is that who cannot separate themselves from their faith long enough to examine it from "another's eyes". and as always, thanks for posting your comments they are insightful and well considered. Jim

Thanks

People say "gays don't breed" but did you ever notice how if a small town has one gay couple that is well received there will soon be a couple more?

Not everyone agreed but thanks for the comments.

Thank you for you kind words and for sharing your experiences. Education was stressed by my father as, "something those son of a bitches can't take away from you." I have long said that public education started to dumb down in the 70s. I graduated in 1968. I did not and was not encouraged and in some cases not allowed to access it to the fullest but I do believe that it was the best and if compared to other nations would still be the best overall. I am not surprised at your example. Today, I feel the children are no more than numbers and education is a refined and repeated process. Much like a meat packing plant. With clinical precision, pride in the process, and focus on quantity rather than quality. The end product is proudly dressed in a cap and gown an presented with a label some graduates cannot even read. I am not sure of the answer but I can damn sure see a problem.

when I read observations that express well wishes for my characters future, it is a validation for me as a storyteller. Thank you for taking your time to comment. Jim