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December 15, 2010 • SouthFloridaGayNews.com
Catching My Breath
The Reunion By Alex Escobar ‘Catching My Breath’ is a personal reflections column about gay life. If you want to ‘catch your breath,’ submit your stories to editor@southfloridagaynews.com’
A
few months ago I was notified that my 10 year high school reunion was being organized. I thought to myself “wow – a lot of stuff has gone down since those days.” I instantaneously replayed some memories of high school. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like high school. I was literally counting down the days till graduation and getting the hell out of Arkansas. The only thing that kept me sane was my best friend Dania and my boss/ mentor Mark. So flash forward to now – in the last ten years, I got a college degree, got into a long term GAY relationship, created a successful business/career. Life is Grand. But I had it in my mind that this reunion was going to be high school all over again:
Drama, Clicks, BS. Why? Cause I’m the gay guy going into a conservative area that is all about the churches, religion, and gossip. My mindset changed rapidly. I was going to be the one to ‘show them how it’s done.’ I was gonna be the “ Big Bitch on Campus.” I was going to be prejudice. So I packed my 300 lbs of luggage (because what if it’s Christmas in October?)
and jetted off to Mena, Arkansas with my partner in tow. Stayed at my best friend’s parent’s house so she and I could spend every minute together. I mean, hello: gay guy + straight girl= Duh! So after two flights, a Kia rental car, and a long drive, we finally arrived. Parked the Kia and grabbed keys to a Chevy Tahoe – didn’t want to stand out in the country. Went to the tailgate party – saw a few former classmates. Pretty much uneventful.
Went to dinner at Mark’s house and had a freakin’ blast with his wife, son, daughterin-law (loves me some Stephanie).
So along comes Saturday – dripping in Oscar De la Renta, Robert Graham, & Prada, we entered THE REUNION. I went into it expecting a battle. Expecting MAJOR controversy. Expecting Drama. It was completely the opposite. I went into expecting the worst and NOT hoping for the best. Warm embraces, intelligent conversations, & laughter. Wow. Everyone grew up. I WAS the ass going into it with an attitude. Cut to me bitch-slapping myself. The night was amazing. Memorable. Awesome. Cut to us at the “Country Club” and partner, Shane having a freaking blast talking to a guy named Buck Shot while we’re thinking we’re drinking Bacardi, but it was really 151 in a room where wood paneling went to die. Good times. In the end, I was the dumbass. I was the one who figured I was gonna be the outcast and turns out…we were almost the belles of the ball. It was a priceless moment when we won the award of couple that had the most difference in age between them. Bottom line, it REALLY DOES GET BETTER. I am... incredibly humbled and wouldn’t change the experience for anything in the world.
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