Formosa

I'm a little late to reply, but then again words and this story are just timeless! What an amazingly touching story... short, simple, but so full of deep emotions. Beautiful was what came to my mind when I finished with moist eyes. You really captured that sense of longing for a mother's love, and the sense of sorrow and pain at feeling and being rejected very well. And the letter tops it off, sort of confirmed what I had been hoping for, that the mother was struggling with herself, and was herself hurt because how much she still loves her son... Done in so few and simple words, but left me gasping at the end from the overwhelming emotions they managed to produce David

Oooh... was one of those stories and endings that send a shiver throughout my body. So sad, especially given the wonderful pasts they shared together... I guess at least Kevin died in love, and knowing that he was loved till the very last moment...

What a (heart-)warming story! Sitting by the fire, trying to keep each other warm, only to find that there

I really like the story and how it's written. I like the way how the follow-on sentences help to give quick witted and unexpected information (like "a good kisser and better in bed"/ "hoping to surprise him, and instead I was the one shocked") The Anderson quote at the beginning really seems to describe Khayyam's feelings, but I suspect by the end of the story his "lump of ice" was beginning to thaw! Love and jealousy can really make people do strange things... Sounds like you can really develop this into a longer story!

Sorry if this touches on the political, but for the first time ever since the establishment of the UN gays (lesbians, bi-s and transgenders) have representation and the right to vote! Yes, alongside the 2800 or so non-governmentanl organisations, like the 'International Association of University Presidents', 'Crime Stoppers International', and the 'International Tea Committee', three gay interest organisations have been granted 'consultative status', meaning they can take part in UN conferences and press for more action to protect the rights of LGBT community. Plans to include gay-interest NGOs have been tabled for a long time, but time and time again rejected because of pressure from conservative countries and church-based groups. But this year three European based NGOs managed to gain enough support and votes to gain their rightful place in the Ecosoc. Amazing it took some 61years for the UN to recognise that gays need representation too....but we need to start somewhere. Now that's what I call 'taxation with representation' ! take care, David (there's more on the ins and outs of the decision on my blog if you're interested)

I guess my life isn't too interesting...going to uni, working, and going home again. But then again there are so many things that happen everyday that we seem to take for granted, and I guess I'm content with the fact I have my health, a few close friends, and can enjoy many things that others can't even dream of doing. I think people won't be really content with what they have, because you tend to think or believe that out there there's something more, something better. Exactly what I mean! Well, Buddhism teaches not to like or dislike what you have or haven't got. Just take and be content with everything as they are, and you'll see life is interesting enough already as it is Hmm...not quite....actually it's the Chinese for 'crisis' which is a combination of the characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. There's something to 'interest-ify' the day for us all today

Oh...so sweet! I wish you both a long, peaceful and loving life together! David

Wow, eight months in the making! No wonder it had such a 'sniffling' impact on people!~ I know that 'lump-in-the-throat' feeling...sometimes just walking around all these ideas would be running around wildly in my head, but when you sit down and try to 'catch' them again, they've escaped.Need to set up a trap and wait for them to come back...but then the more you wait, the less likely they'll come Frustrating... take care, David

What a touching little story... *wiping tears* Really well told in a way that's so personal and from the eyes of a caring and thoughtful kid, who had little, but wanted to give others so much more. Heartwarming It's reading stories like this that make you feel so fortunate and grateful for everything that you have. So this is what you meant by 'telling-myself-a-story-for-a-week'! The power of self-persuasion...I'll give it a try, maybe it'll work for me too

Hm, people can be so mean... My heart goes out to Tim and CJ and all those people out there suffering from discriminationg and oppression because of who they are. Thanks for showing this. I'm going to circulate this so more people can know about it. As much as the vid is 'closer' to home, there are others that are worth watching. All of them centre around human intolerance and suffering, but showing that there's some kind of hope: "Blood Brothers"-- a documentary about a gay, homeless teen trying to (re)build his life after a homophobic attack. The "Making of a girl", about youth sexual exploitation and abuse. "Darfur Rising" is also worth watching too, for obvious reasons...yet another example how the worst excesses of hatred and -phobias can do to people.

Oooh! Fascinating...must stay/wake up to watch it on Sunday~ Seeing these heavenly phenomenon always makes me feel so small and somehow connected to it all... Shame I live in one of the most light polluted places in the world. Hope I can see something!

Warm welcome to you! Look forward to reading your writings~ David

POSSIBLE SPOILER Hi! Just read the second letter, and am again amazed by what 'spur of the moment', never-planned-on-writing can do Well, I don't really think it's disturbing the way J is dealing with his feelings, especially in the first letter. If anything, writing, and especially addressed to the person J is so infactuated with, is a process for him to deal with those feelings. It's not for wrong him to have feelings, since Jon is not a minor; but it's only inappropiate beacuse of the relationship of the two (one being in a position of 'authority' over the other). And I think, or at least I get the feeling, J knows that, and wouldn't do anything to jeopardise the relationship between the two of them, however much he feelings tell him otherwise. ("not that I'd be fired, but I think the trust would be broken and the vibe would turn decidedly awkward.") And I guess anyone who can identify and label themselves as "am a sad, obsessed little boy in an old man's body" is already very in touch with his feelings (or 'obsessions' if you like), and in my mind less likely to do anything 'reckless'. The second letter reall has a nice, effective twist, and I guess as much an icicle in the feelings of wamrth that had been building up all along as for J. I didn't exactly crack up with the food metaphor, but it did make me I guess one way to read it is J might hungry...and to stretch it further his longing for food is parallel to his longing for Jon. Sweet touch with the cat at the end...I know exactly what that feels like! great~ David

Oh...sorry! didn't see this would take a political turn (but then again what in the world isn't?) I just thought it was something funny to see and hear the highest ranking member of our legal system doing the rap. Obviously the campaign was a flop and he sort of made a complete fool of himself. Anyways, if people are interested, I've written more about this on my blog. David

Well, the Netherlands being the only country in the world where cannabis is

"You're either with us or against us" in bed (Bushism)

"can you feel the love tonight"...in my pants

Hm, something personal is always good, and can show how much you care/love your boyfriend. By personal I mean something that has some kind of meaning to him or the two of you...like a movie with a meaniful plot or title, something to keep and remember by. I once got 'A beautiful mind' from my ex, and in return I got 'Moulin Rouge', because that's the first one we saw together. and don't forget to give a sweet, little handwritten card...it's these little things that really count! Good luck! (aaah... I don't know why I'm not in a relationship...)

Hi! I voted for feelings/emotions , because they're what makes people human, and stories are all about the way these feelings/emotions interact, conflict, and come together. It's feelings/emotions that explain what makes people act and think in a particular way, and why. To me, 'interesting characters' is sort of an extension of this aspect, because people can't be interesting if they don't have some kind of feelings/emotions that make them who they are. And you can have an interesting plot, but again without the characters and the unique way that their feelings/emotions make them respond to the situation, there really is just a bare bone. But I agree with 'other' too...a story is more than just one aspect which makes it good/great, just as people (I mean people's character) are more than just black or white. The atmosphere, surroundings, circumstances, histories and little details makes a story complete, and you can't really take one bit away without considering the rest. It's the way the story is written, developed, and eventually concluded that makes it a whole. Interesting though, so far nobody voted for 'sex'. Which sort of shows the high level of (intellectual?) standard people here at GA have have a great day~ David

Hm, I'm sorry to read this. Didn't the Israeli candidate just win the International Mr Gay pageant a few days ago? News of the protest was also reported here in the papers, and apparently it's not just any gay pride, but the World Pride, held under the motto: The last World Pride event was successfully held in Rome six years ago, despite protests from devout Catholics and othe right wing extremists. Just to respond to this guy... Jerusalem is not just Judaism's holiest city, but a sacred place for Christianity and Islam as well. If this city, which for centuries has been so free , tolerant and allowed all these different world views and religions to coexist peacefully, why should gays be treated any different? take care, David

Now I'm laughing Thanks for telling me and sharing those websites Yeah, if you can read other languages, that translation tool makes it all the more hilarious. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in German is: 'Church of Flying-Isolationtube Monsters'...in Mandarin it's: 'Church of Flying Flour Monster' I guess a lot of Dutchies aren't aware of the fact it's supposed to be a spoof. But then again, every joke has some grain of truth to it, even twisted truth that some will believe...I mean some of the other reactions to the discussion were pretty much the same fundamentalist mumble-jumble. take care~ David

Came across a report on a local gay news website, and I

Wow... It's been a while since I last read anything on GA, and I must say I'm glad I started again! possible spoiler~!! This letter sort of reminded me of the situation in 'The Boy', where similarly this older man is infatuated with a younger youth. Again, it's so full of emotions, longing that can't be expressed openly because of embarrasment and taboos. Which I guess probably makes the letter even more powerful than if the emotions were able to be openly expressed; as J says, writing is a sort of purging process to deal with feelings bottled up once and for all. I really like how the 'broken' state of J is described, with references to mechanical things like cogs, whereas Jon's descriptions are by contrast so deep and vivid (the smallest detail of his pupils, the sound of his chuckle, the look of his hair). And the clever use of 'space' between J and Jon, who are so close, but at the same time so far, far away really brings out the distance between them. Great work, especially a sudden spur of the moment thing...but then again those are the best of inspirations! Btw, just saw your site and it's

Hm, can't remember how exactly, but I think it was through Nifty and a link of one of the hosted authors. I know there are other posts thanking individuals at GA who make it all possible, and all of them deserve every bit of thanks they get, but I want to thank GA itself for having this place we call 'home' for all of us like-minded people to meet and mingle

Just wanted to add my appreciation as well. Kitty was the one who offered to make me a shared-hosted author...something I'm still grateful and really can't thank enough for. And she seems so keen to always lend people a helping hand or listening ear here and there. Sort of like the caring 'mother' of this community Thank you~ Hartelijk dank!