ColumbusGuy

Seems like a good philosophy to me, if I'm reading this right: 'if life hands you lemons, make lemonade'...or perhaps our British friends have it right also: 'Get on wiv it!'? I've always tried to pick myself up, brush myself off, and find my inner core where I can always seek solace and some determination to carry on. I change what I can, deal with the rest and try to find something good to brighten my mood once more. Friends have always done that for me, and I strive to do the same for them in turn. xoxoxoxoxoxo

Just uncanny and spooky, my dear friend! I was taking a little break to think on a section of my chapter for Jay, and decided to look here for the umpteenth time today, and found this self-reflecting gem. That is exactly what Mikey is doing at this point in my chapter.... What insane sort of link ties us together sometimes? Part of it is my love and admiration for the nicest soul I've ever run across, the rest must be the way our views mesh on so many aspects of life.

Strange coincidence--it rained early this morning while I lay in bed, blissfully ignoring the not-so-alarming alarm on my computer. If it sounded like an old fashioned alarm clock rather than a merely repetitive little chime, I'd have gotten up to turn it off...but it didn't, so I didn't. I've always loved the rain, and the sound of it on a roof, or hitting the ground has always calmed me down, even though yesterday it blew pretty hard in the afternoon before dying away for the night. As for cats, well we all know my stance on those with my moniker and my avatars. Hard to believe next month will be the end of the second year since Bortai's been gone. I better not think of that, I'm feeling my throat constrict even now. Back to writing--I owe you a chapter, my dearest friend. xoxoxoxoxoxo

These were all great, my dear friend. Eating fruit in my birthday suit? Not being the athletic type, my b-suit doesn't fit right, so it's seldom on display...but it's had some one-on-one encounters and adventures where it seemed to please the other similarly clad explorer. I guess it's most erotic episode was when Kevin talked me into letting him shave me--that was fun, and led to one of our most amazing times for us both. I think my b-suit fit better after that, though it remained between the two of us. Seems I remember a story where the Questor wasn't exactly the hero, but the dragon...a hero can appear from the most unlikely of sources, you just have to be vigilant for the opportunity to be rescued. I kept my eyes open and found my longest and best hero in a man even his cousin had warned me off of--maybe it wasn't fairy-tale perfect, but he sought me out, and I think we played a role in rescuing each other from the spectre of loneliness. These were fun, and I guess I'm being philosophical because I've been reading some great stories by a wonderful guy who live to be only seventeen. He planned four more chapters to one of his novellas, and his site mentions a contest for writers to submit an ending for it, but so far, no one has. Back to my lair and my quills and parchment....

This didn't occur to me until I read your reply...I know what you mean about it feels like coming home to start up with familiar characters again. You've been busy with real life and producing other things, like the amazing Morningstar story, while I've been slacking and being diverted by reading. No excuses like I've been doing anything else. It took me a while to get back into the heads of my boys...but you couldn't have picked a more apt metaphor with this chapter to return with--our guys fit like a nice comfortable sweater when we write, and the tacky images just show the humor our boys have in them waiting to find voice.

Holy cow, Batman! Another wonderful chapter in the lives of our favorite couples--tacky sweaters and all. You couldn't have done a better job getting us back into CoTTland--the whole gamut of emotions from Nate's missing his family, to the obvious love of all the family for each other. I could just picture the radiant smiles and shining lights in the eyes of all the players. Even the sweaters show the humorous side of the joy these people feel in one another s' company. Mike and Kendall are clearly going to be wonderful dads, as they're demonstrating with their interaction and concern for Nate. He, and later, the baby will be growing into wonderful and confident adulthood with these two as uncles and fathers. Very lucky boys. I think I might have preferred the 'humping reindeer' sweater, but we don't know what might be on the back of that one.

I can never stress enough what the Internet and the ease with which it allows us to communicate means to those who can't live lives easily out in the wider world beyond our threshholds. This has never been more clear than last year when my vision problem occurred, and I could no longer get around on public transport without help. Thank goodness for friends who have helped me run errands, and even took the time to get me online again--and just shared their time with me to do things most people don't give a second thought. I have never been able to drive, and was dependent upon friends or public transport to do even the simplest errands like grocery shopping or banking. Columbus is not known for good bus routes or schedules, and now it is pretty much impossible for me with my further reduced vision. That has made things like online banking vital, and my online friends even more important to my sanity. Last year, my remaining family members turned their backs on me, and it was left to my few friends to help me with the recovery between surgeries, and getting me back online once I got out of rehab. Especially vital was one certain Ontarian(?) who called me weekly to keep me informed about my friends at GA, and kept my spirits up when I wasn't sure I'd be writing again. Gary, beyond the special place you have earned in my heart...I'm sure there is one too in whatever vision you have of the next world. So, I'll add my woefully inadequate words to your Celebration of community. I owe an incredible debt of thanks to those who have helped me re-integrate to GA...I wish I could fully participate in Forums again, but they just move too fast for me to keep up...so I say it when I can--I love you all, and one soft-spoken soul in particular.

Hmm, didn't get a notice about this! Wondered about all the 'likes' to comments for previous chapters, and decided to check...found this fun chapter! I'm satisfied on the Rob front--if he's not going with Trevor, at least he's going to dance with anyone he wants, guy or girl. That, along with Nelson and Eric, should make the Prom a lot more interesting than normal. I didn't go to any of mine, not being able to dance and too shy...and not wanting to ask a girl in addition to that. I'd have gone stag but luckily avoided the whole thing. You hit the whole rationale on the head of 'snagging the best date'...it's an insane thing to stress over when there's so much else going on to worry about like tests and classes. Amazing, min ven!

I have no doubt bullying was condoned then--you were supposed to 'toughen up' and stand up for yourself. I guess I was lucky in that the worst I got was being pushed or having my books knocked out of my hands...but there was also the snickers and laughter. How is it right that a little kid should 'take it like a man'? And if you got a parent involved, chances are it would be worse next time.... I address this more in my comment on Chapter 2 of Quinndk's Safeguard--check the story out if you haven't yet. xoxoxoxoxo

I like Mike a lot--and I'm dying to know what he did to Kris last time. Obviously it needs to be renewed or escalated. Time zone, eh? Eastern Time US...either 4 or 5 behind GMT depending on season.

I love this a lot, Quinn! I don't have the same handicap as Grant, but I know how he feels regarding it on top of his other problems. It's not something a non-impaired person can understand, despite their sympathy. And that sympathy too is a problem...it puts the handicapped in a position of inferiority in relation to the rest of the world. All we want is to be treated like everyone else, not something 'special' or needing PC pity. My problem was being born two months early back in '58 when lots of oxygen was the norm in incubators, so it affected my optic nerves, meaning I'd have to wear glasses all my life...on top of perhaps not living to my first birthday. I have no idea how they fitted glasses to a six month old baby, but they did. I repeated 1st Grade because I didn't know about asking for help when I couldn't read stuff on the board, but my teacher for the next time was on top of things and made sure I got great grades--she's the reason I love to read and write to this day. All my life it's been the same--meet someone new and the thick glasses seem to indicate that in addition to being visually impaired, I must be mentally also. I'm pretty sure that applies to all handicapped people. My I.Q. is very high, so I was well aware of what people were thinking despite attempts to hide it...there've only been a few people who treated me like a normal person right from the start, and they are still friends today. I think Rowan is one of those who can see past the surface, and if Grant will give him a chance, I think they'll be good friends...perhaps more. I'm eager for more!

I'm in a melancholy mood today...not really sure why. Nothing bad has happened, but Visitor reminded me of my late partner...and how I miss even the small things he did which would annoy me at times, along with the moments when he filled my heart with laughter. I'd give anything for him to put in the tape of 'Caligula' again and replay that scene where he's sitting at the edge of the sea laughing his head off. Kevin knew that would irk me, but it was yet another time we shared together and bonded...sigh. You gave me a little bit of Spring wonder when I needed it. Thank you, my dearest friend.

I was eleven years old in June of '69...say four or five years to have participated in the Revolution, but affected by it nevertheless. Even in my small town, I guess the older kids were taking part, but they loved girls and not boys...so all I could do was dream. The songs and goals of the Summer of Love were fulfilling and wonderful things, but in my head, with thoughts of boys, I knew it wasn't for me even without asking. Those kids were older, coming from bigger towns...and in their late teens, were verging on becoming adults. To me adults were 'Them', the controllers of our lives...you could tell from the news every night that our dreams didn't count for much when stacked against riots in cities and campuses, fire-fights in Viet-Nam and evac helicopters carrying bloody bodies off some jumgle battlefield. No, dreams of love and harmony would be crushed by those with the Power, or if they did linger, would be overshadowed by the realities of work and life. Timothy Leary, the leader of the Revolution, I learned a year or so back, was just another homophobe...like all good things, they are only for the 'Right People'...those of us who are apart are left to scrabble for what the others leave or allow us. Continue to sing your songs for us, my dearest friend...don't let us forget both the pains and joys of being ourselves!

Self examination...sigh. A couple times in my life I've done things I wasn't proud of, mainly in anger...but that passed in a few minutes, and then I felt far worse for letting that take hold however short-term, and spent a long time feeling guilty and trying to find ways to make up for it. My mom's temper, then my dad's sober thinking at work. I try to bear this in mind when others do something against me...but it's so hard to forgive them if they are people I was close to for years and felt I could trust. My best friend from high school was the worst, and sadly, it broke our friendship when he allowed his fiancee to convince him to withdraw his offer to be his Best Man in favor of her younger brother...people he'd known only about two years. We'd been through so much together, and it never occurred to me that he would do such a thing. There was no way I could trust him again, especially since the woman didn't like me, and he'd likely always take her side. No, I've always tried to treat others right, but sometimes things hurt so much you just have to let the person go.... xoxoxoxoxoxo my dearest friend!

Wow, doing reading off-site, I didn't know this story had a new chapter! Imagine my surprise when I had to go back to 20 to find one I'd read! All caught up now, and I'm really hoping things are going to work out for Liam and Aleksei. It was nice that Li pointed out they'd both been at fault; most problems aren't entirely one-sided, so I think they now have a chance to move ahead. My parents never made that leap, and wound up divorcing during my sophomore year of college. Eager for more, Lit!

Oh my dear friend, you've pointed out some mighty Truths here, and I'm sorry to say that I've been guilty of some of them myself in knee-jerk reactions, even though I knew better. Everyone is of value and equal without exception, but can anyone truly say that they've never harbored fear for someone/something different from their experience--even for a millisecond? Fear of the unknown is hard-wired into our deepest instincts as a survival trait, without it Man would have become extinct long ago...but in today's world, it's bred divisiveness and intolerance mainly through the influence of some religious and political systems who wish to control everyone else rather than promote individual thought. We know what roles religion and politics have played in the past, so I won't go into that here, except to say that any ideology can be twisted by those who wish to control others for their own profit. We were given brains to think for ourselves, and it is sad that so few people will do that, preferring to be led by others who are 'experts' in areas we don't care to learn about for ourselves. It is another sad thing that the concept of Political Correctness even started--first because some thought it necessary to impose it on Society rather than educate people in the right way to behave...and secondly, because it only deepens and hides the intolerance for those who don't fit 'The Norm'. You can't force Respect and Understanding, you must teach it from the cradle onward. How do you do this--simple: by Example and Free Discussion. If you can't talk about an issue, you can't solve it. I'm done, the soap-box is back in the pantry so I can reach the higher shelves in my cupboards....

Like the others, I'm hoping there will be more Reggie to come. You've done a marvelous job in using this format--it could have been dry, but you hit the nail on the head by inserting the comments addressed to Mr. Byrd. Those were typically teenese. So much of this could have been a 'teaching/preaching' exercise, but using Reggie as a sort of 'anti-hero' was great! He processed his life and events just as a teen would, which sold it for me. Underage sex was mentioned above--as if such a thing never happens in real life and shouldn't happen in fiction either--well, people, kids experiment, and always have. I thought Ron addressed it just right, with hints. The focus was on the fact that two boys could seek out Love and appreciate its value rather than only physical aspects of the sex act...I think Love--that thing which gives life meaning rather than just sex--can happen to anyone. I know I hoped for it at that stage of my life, and would have treasured it just as much as an adult. Sadly, times and places were different then, and I didn't find the real thing until much later. Until we hear from Reggie again, I'll be seeing what else you've posted, Ron!

Not much into hairy bears...but I'm intrigued by this already, and eager for the next chapter! Rowan sounds a lot like I was in my younger days...and I'd thought about becoming a librarian too. Wish I'd followed through on that!

Oh, that's a low blow--it's happening, but I'm allowing myself to be distracted by others' writings. I've had versions of a prompt in my head for weeks, but I keep pushing it away in favor of the boys. Maybe that's blocking them?

This story and Unexpected have given me a lot of fun moments...I don't always comment, but the laughs, tears and anticipation are there nonetheless.

Does that mean there's something in the works?

Had to think about these for a bit...loved them both, of course. The first one I can sympathise with--the guy's thinking he'll be losing something if he settles down, and maybe he will, in a way...it depends on if you're happy with a life of constant change and uncertainty, or want a little more stability. For the young, variety is the goal for most, but those of us who've lived longer have hopefully realized that variety isn't sacrificed as the price of companionship. A life is what we make it, it can be boring and staid if we lack the drive or imagination to bring something new into every day...I'll take the joy of sharing those moments with someone who I know will be there for me every time, rather than have the added task of finding that someone. Never give up on sharing your life with someone, friend or lover. Seek and ye shall find.

I'm so glad the surprise worked--I can just picture Liam's face as the realization set in. I keep forgetting how old Lee is...isn't he like 12? He sounds younger at some points....

Alas, drought, I read it shortly after posting that comment, and I did like it...except for the epilogue. Same with the last book of Nick Brady's Marco books. The very last chapter of the last book did a quick rush to wind up the lives of all his characters, and left me far from happy--it felt like he was itching to move on and dump this batch...I'd have been happier with him doing it over the course of another few chapters to make it a similar length to the others. Still, those books are worth the read--except the last chapter.

Two quotes for you, my dearest and staunchest friend: Oscar Wilde said to be yourself because everyone else is already taken; Popeye said 'I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam'. Can't ask for better company than that...as we used to say, 'keep on truckin'.....