His name was Kevin. He may still be alive, but I have long since stopped giving a fuck.

That's a long time ago. I'm sort of normal after gay day +32 years, and the best part is:

--Craig, my third partner, and I celebrated 18 years together a little over a week ago, on September 28. I learned, grew, and found true love.

--National Coming Out Day is in 3 days. Celebrate being different, whatever that is for you.

I promise, it's worth it. It is the best part of who you are.

/end

More lessons:

--Nearly everyone knew I was gay anyway, long before I allowed myself to say to the image in the mirror.

--I ended up with two good partners after my initial failure. The evil ex used to say he loved my innocence. Then he robbed me of it. When we broke up, he repeatedly attempted suicide until his therapist called me to say he was emotionally blackmailing me, and asked me to stop reacting. Then ha stalked me with made up identities for the next 20+ years.

4/

First, the moral: any form of denying who you are poisons not just your soul, but many of your higher reasoning powers. I made several huge mistakes, not the least of which was not finding a smart gay friend to guide my journey.

But also some good lessons: the move to Chicago got me into a vibrant gay community, absolutely vital to my growth.

I got over being afraid of telling everyone really quickly (but sadly, not before Mom died unexpectedly with me never being honest with her)

3/

/continued

I quit my amazing job as a full-time announcer at an NPR station in a top 10 market, lied to my Mom, and moved to be with him in Chicago.

We actually made it through 3 years before I realized he had continued the catfishing online when we were together, was a compulsive liar and an unrecovered alcoholic.

There's a moral and lessons here.

2/

Today is the 32nd anniversary of the day I acknowledged to myself that I was gay, after telling the voice in my head "no" for 41 years.

Thank you, yes, it was kind of the ultimate midlife crisis, and I jumped into it with both feet, hooray, I'm not really defective, I'm just different.

There's a "but..." I was so desperate to know what being in love was like, I naively fell in love with a man on America Online who catfished me. Presented as 250 pounds of muscle, actually 6'4"/165.

1/

RE: https://c.im/@gkearney/117389223913130917

I received the orange mussolini's $90 bribe today as a direct deposit from Social Security.

Thank you, Mr. Trump! I turned right around and donated all of it to the ACLU, who will fight for our civil rights and against corruption.

#ACLU
#USpol
#CivilRights

RE: https://c.im/@cdarwin/117368389650768955

Nobel winner Paul Krugman, one of the signers, alerted his followers to the most important aspect of the billionaire tax a few months ago.

It's a tax on wealth, not income, and would be one of the world's first, a precedent that could spread and make them pay up worldwide. Thats why they're in such a panic.

Be sure to vote "yes" on 40, and "no" on 41 and 42, red herrings designed to neutralize 40.

Today I learned that the saxophone player for the classic rock group Lighthouse was Howard Shore, who went on to compose the astoundingly good music for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

I had forgotten this song until Tidal recommended it today.

https://tidal.com/track/77413362/u

#HowardShore
#ClassicRock
#LOTR
#TIL

Flu and covid vaccinations sorted. Craig got his a few days ago during routine Dr visit. Now I have to screw up my courage for the aftereffects of shingles vaccine round 1 in a week or so.

Kittens are not allowed on the kitchen counter.
Not allowed

Kittens:

#CatsOfMastodon

My husband Craig is great big. Kitten Bob is very small. They love each other.

#Caturday

New profile photo. Visiting daughter Rachel caught me and Baby Kitty headbutting each other.

#cats
Early #Caturday