The echo's of the past. I was uninvited to a public event because my ex will be there...

Hi Barry,

When I sent out the invitations to the book event this Saturday, your email happened to still be in my address book. I would actually prefer it if you don't come, as we haven't seen or talked to each other in years. Frankly, I was shocked when you accepted. (But thank you. I do so appreciate the gesture of support and goodwill!) I know RO is hoping to come, as are several of his friends, and I'm afraid things might get really awkward there. And I get nervous enough in front of crowds to be able to handle that additional stress. 

I do hope you understand, and I'm so sorry for the mixup. 

All the best,

TL

Steven is soul searching. He feels his career is at a standstill. He wants to push on and achieve more, yet his thinks his history and his age are pushing against him. I'm by his side through this. I want him to push forward. He will be much happier working, achieving things.

I also want to see him succeed for myself. I soon will be at the age where my career will look like it's standing still relative to all the young whipper snappers. I need to see him pushing on.

We "parked" yesterday. We took a couple of outdoor loungers, some food and the dog, and headed out to a local park. The weather was perfect. 

We spent the weekend on the coast. At LongBearch WA. It was a spur of the moment trip. I loved it. 

I've never been to Long Beach before. That stretch of the coast is farthest away from Seattle. I've aways presumed it was just like the rest of the coast.

It's not. It's far more residential. The beach is miles long. There is a healthy tourist trade there. As well as weekend getaway cottages.

We walked on the beach for hours. Ate ice cream. Had wonderful food.  Watched the sun set.

We drove back and had dinner and card games with a few AA friends. All is well there. Thought the energy was low. Back to work blues?

Sunday evening, Steven's brother called with what he said was a hilarious story.

This brother is 60. He and Steve have long since accepted that their family is complicated. Mother had multiple husbands. Father had multiple wives. 

The brother had his DNA tested to learn more about his family ancestry. Yes, you know where this story is heading.

The results came back confusing. The test said he had much Central and South American DNA. His mother insisted his father was from Czechoslovakia.

So, the brother paid for the extended test. A test that named names. 

The test gave him the names of first cousins in Mexico. 

His mother came clean. Steven and his brother always knew their mother had lovers aside from her husbands. Apparently she had one more than they knew.

What the brother finds most funny is that his mother insists his father is Spanish. She can't even say the word Mexican. He is amused that his mother is uncomfortable having a Mexican American son. Having many kids by many fathers... she has made her peace with that. But his father is Spanish! 

On Thursday we flew from Vegas to Sacramento. Steven's parents are in Sacramento and we spent a few days with them.

Sacramento is a nice place. Not as bad as I had been lead to believe. It is a quiet city. You have to be able to entertain yourself, but it's not a boring city.

Steven's parents are divorced and in their eighties. They divorced 45 years ago and still haven't put the past behind them. Of course this stresses Steven out. He hates being in the middle.

The parents have mobility problems. We can't doo much with them. We can talk for a few hours, but that get's long in the tooth. Steven arranges errands so we can drive back and forth... buy donuts before breakfast, drop off a donut at dad's and chat a bit. Drive to mom's and drop off so more donuts. Have a full breakfast at mom's. Chat a bit. Drive back to dad's for lunch. And so on.

In July it's my turn. We are flying up to Ontario to visit my family. I'm trying to look through that experience with Steven's eyes.

More quotes from friends that I wish to remember...

From one older gay brother to another...
"That's very creative. Very Gay. You are femming up nicely in your old age. I was really worried for a while. Too butch."

From my mother in law...
"I may ask you too many questions. I am just so curious. I have friends who call me the lady with 100 questions. I just keep asking and asking. I really like to learn about people. Just last week and friend said "'those questions... how do you come up with them... they are so incisive!'"