...And We Go On.

Today, Sunday we were again in the West Village like this past Wednesday, June 26, again in Sheridan Square, again across from 53 Christopher Street- The Stonewall Inn- ”Where Pride Began.” It is where New York City‘s (or rather Manhattan’s) Gay Pride Parade is at it’s most narrow. But like the narrows of a river... there is a powerful swell of rapids making all the rainbow flags churn... almost dancing to the music on the floats of men and women. It’s a festive scene of commonalty with color; and spangles; and feathers; and glitter; and beautiful male bodies who must have been to the gym for hours early this morning; and drags who must have been in the process of being sewn into their costumes early this morning; and Lesbians, and gays of every shape and variety; and baby carriages pushed by two mothers, or two fathers, or a father and mother; and couples of men, and of women, and of men and women; young couples with all their lives ahead of them; and older couples with life still to be spent... and me and Andy who will celebrate twenty-four years together (You can read my blog here ‘We are a family’). I am taking pictures at a great location, but I don’t put my camera down even for a moment. Andy looks up at me while as I am stabilizing myself on to the fence that is fastened into a low foundation wall that I am standing on. He puts his arm around me for support. No, I won’t fall. I am crying. He knew I would be and he is my support by just being there.

This is a crossroad of our gay history where I remember the friends connected with the eighteen AIDS quilt panels I made just in the first year. It is where I think of my entire family of closest friends from the Mineshaft of whom I am the sole survivor. I think of how I locked myself in for years in fear. I see how fortunate I am to have found two men in succession, fifteen years apart, whom I still have and love. One I will call this evening and describe the parade to and my spouse who is taking a nap following the parade just feet away from me now.

This is the first year in eight that we are here at this time and not elsewhere working. It is our first NYC pride parade as a legal couple having been married in Canada in 2005. We have been a married couple in New York as a result of that for a few years now and in the United States as of DD Day this past week.

The last two blocks West on Christopher Street is where all the people and floats disperse. Parades have beginnings, middles, and ends. We celebrate and we go on after to do the things we need to do. I’ll shortly awaken Andy with the smell of fresh coffee that we‘ll share and have some biscotti that he baked the other day. I’ll then start dinner...... We celebrate, we grieve, we remember, and we go on to finish what needs to be done. This is... and we are... we all are... a part of the natural order of things.

Lastly: this is a shout out to northhillspghpa. If LeeAnn comes to your mind- let her know that she and you inspired me to dance... And damn it fella’... I DANCED