Welcome Unconventional Conventioneers! Carry On...
I think that's the same cologne Chimpy uses when cutting brush, Eau de Skunk.
Hell of a story man. It's cool to find those touchstones in our lives that help us move on and deal with life. Says the hetero white male 18-49. Everyone listens to us! 
Lovely piece of personal history. I so love it when a man writes about his own true self. Beach writes like this, too. It's so rare to find a man who reveals so much of how he got to be the man he is. I think writing honestly about our childhoods should be required. It's our pasts that put us on this path, set our way of seeing the world.
It is an amazing piece of writing and images. I believe that I love Anson Humeumptewa for having the insight into your 13 year old self, and giving you the key to unlocking what was hidden.
When we live by "what's expected" we suffer. We supress what's real, and we suffer the stress-induced illnesses of the major disconnect. You were given a great gift that day, UC. A great gift.
Thank you for sharing it.
Well written and with an authentic voice. Anson Humeumptewa sounds like a insightful fellow. All that yard work and fishing sounds a little too much like work for my humble tastes, though. Maybe next time you could write about lattes and arugula. ;o)
What an interesting perspective from your 13-year old days. I can't imagine that, even though you "came out" at such an early age, life in a world filled with homophobes was easy.
Is there another installment to this story? I hope so.
Jesus man, terrific story. Never knew you worked the fields, it's horrible work. You know.
Really had a rush come over and a lump in my throat with the line:
"You're kinda like us Indians. You're different. Don't let them get to you."
So true.
Can't let them get to ya.
I was at a Pow Wow today, and back when I was about your age in this story, our backpacking leader took us to an old Internment camp, on the way to our Sierra backpacking trip. Learned much from that guy.
Peace.
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