We all have a story to tell. No matter whether you agree or not, it’s true. The good, bad, and everything between all add up to a life and experience unique to each of us. The question you might ask yourself is this, “Is my story worth telling” The answer most people arrive at is No. But why? This question and my own answer are a major driver in the reasons I began this journey with you. So, let’s continue as I share my story.

My story doesn’t begin with a small baby being born in a log cabin or manger. That was supposed to be funny, So, don’t come at me Ya’ll…… It doesn’t evoke entitlement or financial wealth, as I reflect on it. It isn’t all happy or all sad, nor is it all, as they say, glitter, unicorns, and rainbows. It’s real, at least as real as I can share here without risking the possibility of the morality league or literary police coming to lock me up. My story does begin, however, in a time long ago. A time when I believe life was a little easier. A time when the struggles we experience today weren’t even on our horizon. The year was 1969.

Here is a little background on what happened that year. In the year 1969, the Apollo 11 capsule landed on the moon, Nixon was president, Woodstock happened, that Manson guy and his followers did some really bad S#!t in California and then there was ME!!! We had no internet, cell phones weren’t even a part of our culture, we had no social media to lean into (and live by), and no one was worried about taking the perfect selfie. To communicate, we wrote letters and actually mailed them with a postage stamp, or we might have called people if we had a telephone, if we did have a telephone, it had a long-twisted cord that attached it (and Us) to the wall, and we didn’t even know what “texting” was…. BUT… that doesn’t mean the last year of the 1960’s was better or worse than today. It was just different.

All those old ideas and many of our newfound technologies and medical advancements all play a part in helping make you and I what we are today. Our past is as important as our future in understanding self and telling our story. To be honest, without those medical advancements, it’s likely I wouldn’t be here today. I was born in a rural hospital in a time when many ailments and diseases likely led to early death. I weighed 4 pounds and stayed in the hospital long after my Mom was able to go home. Those old-fashioned Nurses and Doctors nurtured and cared for me, and I survived and eventually became Joe from the South.

Now, back to my story. I am thankful to have a good career, wonderful family and friends, and a moderately sensible mindset, to guide and support me on my journey. I feel the intense desire to find my “forever” person. Adam has been gone for a while now and, while I miss him deeply, I know my life MUST go on. More about Adam on a future post. I have loved and lost and keenly understand that I want and need love again. I’m not a perfect person, but I am a good and kind person. I know I have a little baggage I’ve been carrying around, and hopefully I can unpack some of it over the next weeks, months and years. Of course, sooner would be FANTASTIC.

In previous posts, I’ve shared a bit about my Granny, some of my closest family members and a little about my own challenges. That’s important as it has been pivotal in my own understanding who I am and where I hope to go. So, onward we go. I’m in my mid 50s, I am a single male, with a little bit of an attitude from time to time. I am not perfect and never purported to be. As you all know, I live in the South. To be specific Southeast Alabama. I have lived here for most of my life. I love it here, except for the mosquitos and occasional hurricane. I have memories of traveling the world with my Family. See a previous post for more on that, and I LOVE to travel. I love animals and babies, I guess I got that from my Dad, and I always root for the underdog, disadvantaged, and marginalized. I love deeply and quickly give love when it feels right. I am easily distracted by conflicting emotions, so please forgive me if I don’t quickly pick up on your “love language” or your genuine desire to connect. I am learning. There once was a time that I rejected the values of my ancestors, the ones that harken back to the old farm family in rural America, their struggles and experiences as they tried to eek an existence out of the dust, etc… BUT NOW, I understand that those values helped make me what I am today. I embrace them and try to honor them and do justice to my ancestors as often as I can. I am college educated, as is my Sister. We are proud to say we did what most in our family were unable to or chose not to do. For the record, being a college graduate does not imply that we are better than anyone else. It simply means our life path took us in a different direction. We enjoy a good life, in part, based on our careers which our education made possible. I have many family members and friends that went to trade school to learn a skill, work in industry or the lot, or started a small business and saw it blossom into a career. Each of them, as well as my Sister and myself, are hard worker. Remember, the work ethic instilled into my Sister and myself is deeply rooted in our upbringing.

To continue, I am a moderate valued person with a live and let live ideology. I respect and try to understand all others that aren’t like me. This extends to political parties, Faith beliefs, and all types of people. I am a gay man living in the deep South. I’m sure some of you may understand the possible ramifications of how those two things can collide. I’ve known I was gay since I was a young person. I’ve always been a little different than my boy cousins. Granny knew, and she embraced me and loved me for it, rather than in spite of it. I respect others and expect that they will respect me. I am a person of Faith after having been away from formalized church for many years. It’s a part of me, but it doesn’t define me any more than being gay fully defines me. Being a gay Man of Faith is a small part of what makes me want to continue on, to persevere, and to overcome the challenges that may come my way. I believe we all have in internal desire for self-improvement and constantly seek personal gratification and fulfillment in our lives. I chuckle as I write this, but I’m sure you will agree. I love the OXFORD comma and never met a grammar or punctuation rule I couldn’t defy. I am the King of the run on sentence. And finally, I am a human being with needs and desires just like you.

Whew, that was deep.

So, as I move forward, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for taking the time to follow my blog. It means a lot to me that you read and comment from time to time. Please feel free to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE or COMMENT. I openly welcome your thoughts and comments and greatly appreciate your support. Best of wishes for each of you, I hope to see you soon.