My most laughable absurd moment this year!
I'm one of the lucky few who (as an elder) can't recall ever having to struggle with homophobes either at home or school. Never got bullied or had to "come out" to anyone. Especially my parents who allowed my sexuality to evolve the same as my siblings.
(In fact, I recall my mom lecturing my older sister once, "Why can't you date nice boys like your brother?") No one either on EP or here has ever made any untoward remarks that I can recall.
So now here I am in my sixties, happily retired and living in a nice gated "senior" community, A contented (masculine) man without any "gay" affectations I am aware of.
For the first time in my years here I recently elected to go along on one of the communities monthly outings, a place I love in the foothills of So.Ca. (Kind of a Knotts berry farm for older people, apple orchards, a corny petting zoo, the typical kind of "kitch" old people love.)
Our center is a motley mix of whites, a few blacks, and several hispanics, a nice mix. I know most of them, but very few in the other building so many of the faces were new to me.
Once we completed this rather silly early American candle making craft it was time for dinner.
The restaurant was also early American themed with costumed wait staff and about 30 of us were seated at these long distressed wooden tables. Very comfy. Once our orders were placed, various folks were engaged in small talk. I wasn't really paying much attention but across the table I could hear a bit of sniggering from a few of the men having to do with something about a womans private parts and the terrifically sexy smells. The kinds of guy crap I've heard thousands of times over the years as though anytime more than two guys are gathered this particular subject becomes mandatory.
Suddenly, the community manager stands up and for the benefit of the entire restaurant, loudly instructs this group to, "Please stop this talk you're embarrassing David!" (I actually could have cared less)
Needless to say, I was a bit stunned as many in the group turned to see who exactly this hapless "David" was.
I'm usually pretty good at awkward social settings and folks I don't know well but the sudden silence and stares threw me off, I was struck mute and couldn't think of anything appropriate for this moment.
Instead, I smiled like a dumbass and decided rather than trying to pretend this wasn't happening I decided to AFFIRM her now obvious observation and did the classic, typically effete, "Touch pearls with Queens wave"...a few twitters soon turned into general laughter. I'm glad I didn't make an issue of it, but it did leave me a little irritated.
I'm glad some people feel protective towards minorities but honestly, most of us neither crave or even want any kind of different attention.
(In fact, I recall my mom lecturing my older sister once, "Why can't you date nice boys like your brother?") No one either on EP or here has ever made any untoward remarks that I can recall.
So now here I am in my sixties, happily retired and living in a nice gated "senior" community, A contented (masculine) man without any "gay" affectations I am aware of.
For the first time in my years here I recently elected to go along on one of the communities monthly outings, a place I love in the foothills of So.Ca. (Kind of a Knotts berry farm for older people, apple orchards, a corny petting zoo, the typical kind of "kitch" old people love.)
Our center is a motley mix of whites, a few blacks, and several hispanics, a nice mix. I know most of them, but very few in the other building so many of the faces were new to me.
Once we completed this rather silly early American candle making craft it was time for dinner.
The restaurant was also early American themed with costumed wait staff and about 30 of us were seated at these long distressed wooden tables. Very comfy. Once our orders were placed, various folks were engaged in small talk. I wasn't really paying much attention but across the table I could hear a bit of sniggering from a few of the men having to do with something about a womans private parts and the terrifically sexy smells. The kinds of guy crap I've heard thousands of times over the years as though anytime more than two guys are gathered this particular subject becomes mandatory.
Suddenly, the community manager stands up and for the benefit of the entire restaurant, loudly instructs this group to, "Please stop this talk you're embarrassing David!" (I actually could have cared less)
Needless to say, I was a bit stunned as many in the group turned to see who exactly this hapless "David" was.
I'm usually pretty good at awkward social settings and folks I don't know well but the sudden silence and stares threw me off, I was struck mute and couldn't think of anything appropriate for this moment.
Instead, I smiled like a dumbass and decided rather than trying to pretend this wasn't happening I decided to AFFIRM her now obvious observation and did the classic, typically effete, "Touch pearls with Queens wave"...a few twitters soon turned into general laughter. I'm glad I didn't make an issue of it, but it did leave me a little irritated.
I'm glad some people feel protective towards minorities but honestly, most of us neither crave or even want any kind of different attention.
