Who needs a MOJITO time? (The sequel) — Page 214

Do you use contractions when you speak?

brd - where in Kansas?

Yes, the middle of Kansas.

My step-dad is from south-central. I was born in Kansas City - but on the Missouri side

Yes, brd, the home of Hallmark and the Country Club Plaza.

There is or was a German deli on the plaza?

I guess that since I was only 16 when I was there (it was 93, my bad) and it was a youth conference, it wasn't so much the town I was into but more of the other kids.

All that old farm, ranch and rail money - it's an interesting stew.

One of the best Black Southern Baptist churches I've ever been to was in Kansas City, Kansas - my GOD, what a choir!

Oh, my dear, Black gospel music is where it's at! There's even a FABULOUS cast recording of a show called THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS that could introduce you to the genre - and still give you a theatre fix It's a gospel re-telling of the Oedipus stories - starring Morgan Freeman as Oedipus! It has some of the most electrifying and substantial live gospel recordings ever made.

I am pretty much on record on this site as having a bit of antipathy toward Christian religions. HOWEVER, with all the different musical idioms that I've dabbled in, NOTHING reaches the depths of my soul like Black gospel. It is so full of emotion, intensity, integrity and dynamics that I can't help but get up and dance around in joy - lyrics be damned.

When I was 19, I went back to live in my hometown of Kansas City for a year, just to see what it was like. I ended up working for and living with an amazing young Black woman, who accepted me into her family. Every Sunday I would go with her to church, which basically amounted to a 3 hour gospel concert. I was the only white person there - they called me 'Uncle White Thing' - but, I could let the spirit of that music move me with the best of them!

After the service, we would all go back to her mother's house - with 4 generations represented - and have a REAL feast. Fried chicken, greens, taters - and every pie known to exist.

To this day, those are some of the best days I've ever experienced. Family, love, food, friendship, loyalty, devotion, humility and grace - and all of it wrapped up in a package of the most soul-lifting, heart-pumping and voice-raising music I will probably ever have the priveledge to hear.

Hi guys.

Quick check in.

Life is very difficult, and I have a GREAT story.

The other day, I ordered 3 things from Amazon.com

1) a book of erotica as a gift for Laelofthelakes (I was gonna visit her, excellent housewarming gift, yes?)
2) "Secrets of a gay marine pornstar"
3) Marci X. Bad movies make good Saturday nights.

Well, as luck would have it, it was sent to my house. Freud would say this is my coming out. My father opened up the package. He was gonna just hide it in his luggage and give it to me, but my mother found it. My dad called this morning:

"Call your mother. We got your package."

I call my mother. She's FLIPPING out.

Shira: Mom, it's for a friend.
Mom: Shira, that's like dog ate my homework.

I eventually convince her that's it true.

Eventually, it comes to this.

Mom: Shira, if this is for a friend, I truly question the people you are associating yourself with, especially if they read these THINGS. And secondly, if it's for yourself, I cannot being to comment on your behavior and how inappropriate it is. I will NOT send you money to send on these things! (Sidenote: My money that I earned!)

So, now she's semi-convinved I'm a lesbian. Which in her eyes, if the worse thing ever. She's SO homophobic, I hate it. She thinks that because I have so many gay men who adore me (), I will be emotionally stunted, and never have a relationship with a straight man...

My dad's reaction: "Shira, I'd rather you be straight, but if you're a lesbian, okay." Afterwhich, he said something about how I might be a lesbian NOW because I won't attract boys in my "condition".

*sigh*

And I have a dinner with my parents and ALL my family on my Dad's side Friday night and a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday.

And I've gained weight.

So now I'm a fat lesbian. So what if I am? I know I'm large, but I don't know if I'm a lesbian. Maybe I am. It shouldn't matter. What's interesting is that my Mom's mom couldn't care LESS! Weird that is skips generations.

Sorry for the rant you guys. This was just the icing on the cake as I deal with some other terrible and difficult situations that I don't feel comfortable posting about.

Anyway, I'm kind of here now. Nice to know I was missed.

---