Sunday, June 29, 2008

Alphabet Day

I'm going to shave today.

I never shave on weekends. Skip it during the week if I think I can get away with it. I remember as a boy anxiously checking to see if my soft cheeks were showing any signs of stubble. Somehow the idea of shaving was oddly romantic. A sign that I was an adult, no better, a man. Well you better be careful of what you wish for because sure enough, I'm an adult, I'm a man, and I shave. Running a blade around your chins in the morning isn't quite the rush I thought it would be. So I'm no longer a man, I'm a guy - shaves when necessary and no more.

But I'm going to shave today.

This is special occasion shaving. I expect extra points for shaving on a Sunday, the designated day of rest. I haven't shaved for several days (I'm teaching summer school, I don't shave for summer school, I make a big point of that on the first day of class - see, I didn't shave, we're going to be relaxed here together) so I'm going to have to weed wack before I do the final close shave. But it's a special day and ..

I'm going to shave today.

Down in the city of Toronto, today, there will be just over a million people parading in the streets. It's tempting to think that they are all there revelling in the fact that it's our 39th anniversary today, but in fact they're there for some little festival called 'Gay Pride Day'. Oh, sorry LGBTQSAGLPCGFDay. I keep forgetting. Now, let me get this straight (pun intended) we were a couple before there was such a thing as alphabet day. They chose our anniversay not the other way round.

We aren't going down to the city for the day. It's too crowded and traffic is bad. So we celebrate our anniversary up here, we have the Gay Pride flag hanging over our porch and that's pretty much that. Next year we will be living in the city just a block off the parade route so no doubt we'll be there for the celebrations.

After breakfast at Cora's, if it's still sunny, we are going down to the waterfront. Joe went there a couple of days ago and scoped out an area where we can go together. It's accessible and, apparently, a nice stroll. We know that when people see us they will just see a couple of old guys spending time together, one in a wheelchair, one with the residue of a limp. They won't see two radical gay guys.

But what's nice is ... after 39 years ... if they did - they probably wouldn't care.

Now that, my dear, is worth a shave.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the day guys!

Lisa

wendy said...

Happy Anniversary! Have yourselves a great day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary, Dave & Joe! Enjoy your day!

Did you see the recent "Ask Amy" column? The first letter addresses the term "retard" and "retarded," from someone asking for ideas how to respond when other adults use the term.

At http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062701252.html

lina said...

Happy Anniversary.
Have a fabulous day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! I hope you guys have a wonderful day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Dave & Joe!

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Dave & Joe! Have a wonderful, romanitic day, with no stubble to get in the way :)

Anjie (mom to Adam, 5)

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Dave and Joe!

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking...isn't it odd that I spent so much time and energy in my younger years while protesting, marching, ect., trying to just have the right to live my ordinary life with my ordinary lover. I didn't want to do anything that straight people couldn't do. (well maybe one thing!!) LOL I really just wanted the right to live out in the open without fear that I would be breaking some law by loving the one I loved. I think that your anniversary definitly deserves a shave. Long live our ordinary/extrodinary lives, loving those that we choose. I might even shave my legs in honor of your anniversary!!!LOL

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Dave and Joe, I've only had the privilege of meeting you both once but you deserve to have a wonderful celebration of your lives together. Congratulations!!!
Myrr

painting with fire said...

Congratulations! 39 years together is worthy of much celebrations along with a shave.

John R. said...

Happy Anniversary.....to 39 more years.....well, at least a few more decades....

Hope your waterfront stroll was romantic and full of magic!!

FAB said...

Happy anniversary Dave and what a man Joe! As I've said once before, you're relationship is beautiful and I hope other's, straight, gay, transgender...whatever part of the alphabet, can find a relationship and family like yours!

Tammy said...

Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

I think in honor of your anniversary we should hear the story of what happened 39 years ago! The story of how you met, or something.

I think that'd be nice. :)

Congratulations and wow... that's quite the milestone!

Anonymous said...

39 years... wow, now that is inspirational!

Shan said...

I took the weekend off from blog reading and look what I missed!!

Happy anniversary and I've always wanted to see that parade.