Who?

     Okay, so bear with me here. I’m going to ramble on as I try and wrap my head around all this. Might not be pretty, so hold on. I’m going to try and connect all the dots. We’ll see if I can or not. There is a theme here, believe it or not. 

     Recently I was asked, if I could spend the day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? The answer was easy—my grandmother. I’d like to have her see that I do try and live by what she taught me, helping others when I could. Not so hard really. It’s easy to be able to say something or do something nice for someone else. I think I've stood on that soapbox enough for y’all to get the gist of that. So yeah, I’d love to be able to spend the day cooking and talking with my grandmother. 

     Then the pool was narrowed. What writer would you want to spend the day with? I had to think a moment longer on that one, but still didn't take me long. Maya Angelou. I became an avid reader of hers from about the age of 11. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is still one of my all-time favorite reads. I could listen to her speak for hours on end. Such a wise woman. About the only poet I will read to this day. 

     And don’t you know that the pool got smaller when I was asked, what gay author? Oh hell…this got really hard. There is no way I can pick just one. Maybe if I split the day up? As I've mentioned here before, I loved Gordon Merrick’s books. So I’d want to have a chat with him. My first question to him would be ‘How did you get The Lord Won’t Mind published in the first place, and how did if feel when it hit the New York Times Best Seller List? I've always been amazed at how that happened. 

     Then I’d want to spend some time with Armistead Maupin. His Tales of the City series is still one of my favorite go to reads. Fun, happy, emotional and sexy is how I would start to describe his books. I can’t help but think he’d be a riot to hang out with. We actually have a lot in common. 

     I was dreading the next question. I knew it was coming. I didn't want it. Yeah, got it anyway. “Who in the M/M genre?” Nope, not going there. I really haven’t had much time to read this year. I've had a lot of things going on and was very busy, so I didn't get much of my to be read list done. I will say that the few that I did manage to squeeze in were all amazing. There are a few new authors out there that blew my socks off. There was only one book that I started that I couldn't finish. That’s a record for me. Yeah, I’m fairly picky. If I can’t believe it or more importantly, feel it, I will put it down. It was the first book I ever returned on Amazon. 

     So I’m not going to answer who I want to spend time with, but I will give you this list of amazing authors that I’ve had the opportunity and joy to get to know. I’m also not going to say exactly what books, because they each have several. 

     So here it goes… 

     E. S. Skipper (and yes, I can be objective here) 

    Wulf Francú Godgluck 

     Taylor Law 

     Look ‘em up. You won’t be disappointed. 

     So… something happened earlier this week when I went to the grocery store. While everyone is piling their carts full of ham and other Xmas goodies, I’m trying to reach for a box of cereal that is on the top shelf, and is way back towards the back. I look around and there isn't anyone around that is taller than me so I prop up my stick and climb up the shelving. Not a big deal. Right? 

     It wouldn't have been a big deal until I started to laugh. Why? I was thinking of my man. Soon I won’t have to worry about getting things down from the top shelves. I got so tickled that I pulled down all the rest of the boxes, about five in total. 

     Just as I picked them up and ready to put them back on the shelf, a woman of about eighty comes around the corner, shorter than I am and looks at all the boxes in my arms. “You must really like that cereal” she states, a grin on her face. 

    I looked down and smiled. “Three teenage boys,” I quickly reply.  
     “Oh, you might want a few more then.” We laugh and she moves on. 

     I’m actually looking forward to cooking masses amount of food. It’s hard to cook for just one person. So bring it on. I’m ready. How big of a freezer do you think I need for a whole cow? 

     This will be the last blog for this year I guess. I’m not good on doing much retrospect right now. I've got too much going on. What I am proud of is the small changes that I've been able to make in other people’s lives. I like to think of it as a tribute to my grandmother. 

     So…until next year, get out there. Live. Love. Laugh. And figure out a way to give it to others. It doesn't take much to put a smile on someone’s face. 

     Max