There are many stories out there about parents and how they handled the news that their child was gay.  This is my story.

Twelve years ago, I met my SO, Danny, and fell in love.  Now, I was fifty years old at the time with my years of child-raising finally behind me, or so I thought.  Danny was raising his two children, from a previous marriage, so if I was to get involved with him, I also had to involve myself with the raising of his children.  Believe me, taking on the responsibility of a 13 year old daughter and a 14 year old son was daunting, but I was determined to make us a family unit.  

It wasn’t easy.  Both kids had issues stemming from their mother abandoning them; jealousy issues from me being in Danny’s life; and the normal angst of being teenagers.  They tested me constantly and tried my patience, especially during the first couple of years Danny and I were together.  But, I fell in love with them just as much as if they were my own.

When our son was 17, I first started finding small signs that he was struggling with the fact that he was gay.  He became secretive about what he was doing on the computer, so I browsed around and found that he had been on Gay sites and he denied it when I asked him about it.  Now, since he was only 17, I went on the computer and blocked his access to the sites, but only because he was underage and I feared that he might entice a stalker. Phone calls made in the middle of the night would quickly end when Danny or I entered the room.  I didn’t discuss this with Danny as I honestly didn’t know what his reaction would be when he discovered his son was gay.

Our son finally admitted to me that he was gay and that he was scared to tell his dad.  So, we agreed to keep it between us until he felt the time was right.  We really didn’t discuss it again and the years passed by.  After a heavy night of drinking, he blurted out the fact that he was gay to his father.  Danny was stunned, he refused to believe it and went into immediate denial.  It took months of discussion between Danny and I before he could accept his son’s choice of lifestyle.  Danny doesn’t like it, but he loves his son and deals with it as best he can.  He told our son that who he slept with was his business, that we loved him deeply, and we would always be there for him.

Because, that’s what a parent does!  Your child might not make life choices you agree with or follow the direction in life that you took…but your child will always be a part of you and if you are smart and handle things right, your child will always be a part of your life.  To do otherwise, you risk not being in your child’s life and hurting your child by turning your back on them.  Unfortunately, some parents take this path.  I feel sorry for their loss.

In the past few years, our son has struck out on his own but remains close to us.  We have basically adopted a “Don’t ask…don’t tell!” policy.  We don’t ask about his sex life, but we also don’t ask about our daughter’s sex life.  We feel that it is their private business and they have the right to choose whoever they want.  Our hope for all of our children is that they find true, lasting love and we don’t care what the gender is of the partner they select.  As long as they are safe and loved, than we are happy!

We are not perfect parents, but we are parents who want to remain in our children’s lives until we pass on.  So, we accept their choices and support them.  Turn our backs on our kids? No way.  

Thank you for listening to my story.   

Is with a smile!  So, here we go!

Not smiling yet?  Then try this one.

 Wow, you’re tough.  Ok, give me a minute.  How about this one?

If I put a smile on your face this morning, then go out and spread it around.  If I failed, then all I can say is…

 HAVE A SMILE FILLED DAY!

Ok, so we all do silly things once in a while.  Sometimes on a dare, sometimes because we just feel like being silly.  But, where do you draw the line?

Hey, lady!  Are you serious?

Hmmm…be still my heart!

At least this guy offers some good advice.

Wonder what the ad for this business looks like in the Yellow Pages?

Nothing says “Stop Me” to a cop better than this.

This guy needs to sober up and get new roommates!

Can’t wait to buy one of those plants!

 Hey, Zac Efron!  Do you realize your standing in front of glass?  Is this really the best time to adjust those jewels?

So, if you’ve ever been embarrassed by doing something silly, don’t worry.  Someone else has crossed the line way before you!

Last May, when my SO, Danny, was in the hospital, I was at my wit’s end.  Putting up with his hysterical sister, negative reports from the doctor’s and the stress of just being in a hospital 24/7 was beginning to take it’s toll.  I couldn’t sleep; couldn’t eat and was finding it harder and harder to keep up a positive attitude. 

One day, feeling low, I stood out in the hallway outside Danny’s room and started to walk outside for a short break.  I stopped in my tracks when I saw an elderly woman pushing a harp down the hall.  Curious, I stepped aside to let her pass and watched her as she set up a chair and her harp at the end of the hall. 

As she began playing, soft and beautiful music, I looked around the hall and was amazed at the effect her magical harp was having on all within listening range.  Visitors came out of the rooms; nurses seemed to speak more softly; and patients who were able to walk gathered around her with smiles on their faces. 

After playing a few tunes, she silently put her chair away and pushed her harp back down the hall.  There was no applause, just silent awe that this angel had come to bless us with such beautiful music.

When Danny returned home from the hospital, he was telling me how little he remembered of the two weeks he had spent in a hospital bed. He spent most of the time in a heavy fog due to large doses of pain medication.  But, he told me that he had dreamed that angels were playing their harps for him.  I smiled, and said “No, honey, that wasn’t a dream.  A beautiful angel did come and play for you.”   

This passenger was subdued by airline personnel and fellow passengers after having a meltdown during a flight from Iceland to JFK.  Upon boarding, he proceeded to drink all his duty free booze and halfway through the flight, became unruly and started screaming profanities, spitting, and yelling that the plane was going to crash.  When he tried to choke the woman sitting next to him, he was restrained with duct tape and plastic ties.

He was arrested when the plane landed and brought to a hospital, where I assume they removed the tape. Passengers declined to speak with police, so no charges were filed.

Airline personnel now stock duct tape and plastic ties to restrain passengers who present a threat to the safety of the other passengers.

Do you feel that appropriate measures were used or an alternate method to calm the passenger down should have been considered?  Personally, I think this was a righteous taping!

“Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  Today is a gift.”

Tyler Ziegel

1982 – 2012

U.S. Marine Sgt. Tyler (Ty) Ziegel was an inspiration to all.  Horribly disfigured by a suicide bombing attack while he was serving in Iraq, Ty returned home to serve as an example for other wounded veterans. He had lost a hand, fingers and part of his skull, and his face was unrecognizable.  But, he carried on with a determination and sense of humor which earned him respect by all.  He wore a tatoo with the words from above and lived by those words.

When children asked him, “What happened to your nose?”, Ty would reply “The bad guys took it.”  Family members stated that he was open and honest to everyone about his time in Iraq and his injuries.

He was brought to national attention when he married his high school sweetheart, Renee. Sadly, Ty suffered from severe PTSD and the marriage ended.  The two remained friends and Ty was grateful that Renee had been at his side during the multiple surguries he suffered through.  

Ty passed away on December 26, 2012.  Following his death, volunteers lined the streets of his hometown with 2000 American Flags to honor him. His loss will be felt by his family, his friends, his fellow veterans and by the nation.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for Ty and for all wounded veterans!

We’ve got your 3, Ty….rest in peace.

TO BLOG ABOUT?

Do you spend hours dressing up your pet so you can take it’s picture?

Do you dig through your photo library and dig out the only picture you haven’t shared, which happens to be a picture of you, stuffing your face with ribs?

Or, do you cruise through the Internet to find a special, motivational message?

 Do you pull out all the stops and insert a video with cute, adorable kids because not many people can resist cute, adorable kids?

So, what do you do when your Muse has left the building?  Any suggestions?

Me?…I got nuthin!

Anyone who has followed my posts know that I usually lean toward the humorous side of life.  This will not be one of those posts.

 The video below is not funny, it is IMPORTANT!

 And the scary part?  Bath salts, also sold as synthetic marijana, are LEGAL! 

This has become a ever-spreading problem hitting children, young adults and people from all walks of life.  These drugs are dangerous and are killing our future.

After the Colorado Movie Theater massacre, the mall shootings, and the slaughter of innocent young children in Newtown, Connecticut, people wept and wondered how to protect our children.  Well, my answer is GET INVOLVED!  Let’s find a way to get these designer drugs out of our stores and out of the hands of our children.

Talk to your local police and government officials to find out how.  I’m going to!

Have you ever done something, that even before you did it, you thought “I’ll live to regret this?”  

These boys are three years older now.  I wonder if, when ten more years pass, and after the “instant fame” has long worn off; they will live to regret sending this video into the wild’s of the Internet? Maybe yes, maybe no!

Have you ever done something that you thought was such a great idea at the time, but now wish you could take back?  Perhaps a practical joke that went horribly wrong?

I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours!

I was cruising through the Internet, when I came upon this article explaining how it was a bad idea to sleep with the seven people listed below.

#7 – Your Doctor

I don’t know about anyone else; sleeping with my doctor would be the last thing on my mind.  I’m too busy worrying how he’s going to be using those strange, silver instruments laid out on the counter, and when he snaps on those plastic gloves, it’s a definite turnoff.  Now, I might consider it, if it meant that I didn’t have to wait 45 minutes to an hour after my scheduled appointment to be put in a small room and then wait another 45 minutes before he finally pops in.

#6 – Your Lawyer

I imagine (since I’ve never had a lawyer) that sleeping with one might be dangerous!  What if he sues you when you break off the relationship?  And, lawyers bill hourly…I don’t think I could afford it!

#5 – Your Boss

I agree, this would be a bad idea.  I would worry what my yearly performance review would say!  Also, what happens when he gets the hots for the new, young and beautiful receptionist instead of you?  Yeah, I smell trouble written all over this one.

#4 – Your Best Friend 

I have heard the horror stories of people who slept with their best friend and how it turned ugly!  Since, during my life, all my best friends have been female and I am straight; I guess I have nothing to fear.

#3 – Your Employee

 Again, not a smart move.  You would always have to worry about your employee discussing your performance over coffee breaks with your other employees.  This is not conducive to running a smooth operation.  And, you would have to write your lover’s performance review.  Too risky!

#2 – Your Co-Worker

No thanks.  I don’t need someone watching my every move during a workday: who I talk to, who I have lunch with, etc.  What happens when the relationship ends and you still have this person watching your every move: who you talk to, who you have lunch with, etc.  The risk of workplace sabotage is too high also.  Nothing worse than a person scorned!

#1 – Your Relatives

Ok, this would be so wrong…on so many different levels.  I don’t think I even need to list the reasons to avoid this.  Yuck!

After reading the list, I went and gave Danny a great big kiss and thanked my lucky stars that I don’t have to make the decision of who to sleep with anymore.  But, if you find yourself in the position of having to make a decision on sleeping with any of the above…consider yourself warned!