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Personal History

Unprecedented

A year like no other. So far out there. Wonder if we’ll ever get back to normal.                 It has been an amazing year, for sure.  Emily, Mitchell, Erich, Zen, Laya, Jennifer, Jay, Liz, Erica, and Ira are all progressing in school. We met when they were undergrads,…

December 31, 2020 in Adhesion, Appreciation, How I roll, Love, Personal History, Perspective, Wonder, Work.

Chocolate Carrot Cake

While coming out as gay man 56 years ago is associated with lots of crap that happened back then and regularly since, coming out has never been the source of the crap itself. Coming out actually launched a world of good for me. At age 16, I got honest with my parents in ways that…

October 11, 2020 in Appreciation, Commitment, Decisions, How I roll, Personal History, Perspective, Pride, Social Identity, Truth.

Fruitcake

Blue, green, or brown were okay on Thursdays. But not yellow, red, or orange. Those were fruit colors and spoke volumes about you if you wore them on the wrong day. The thing is, when these rules dominated parts of my life in fourth and fifth grade, there was no one to tell how important…

October 11, 2020 in Appreciation, Commitment, Decisions, How I roll, Personal History, Pride, Religion, Social Identity.

The right time

In the past couple years, I have noticed a shift among some friends when talking about the births of their babies — actually about babies they call theirs, like I call William mine, even though he is Patrick and Jason’s son. These babies are, as often as not, community babies, young people in whom many…

July 28, 2020 in Aging, Commitment, Criticism, Decisions, How I roll, Personal History, Pride, Religion, Social Identity, Wonder.

Getting it right

While shoveling snow from my driveway today, I had plenty of opportunity to reflect. The drive is long and wide and, even though I get it plowed by a service, getting it right can take me an extra hour. When I was about eight years old, I started shoveling snow for neighbors. By that point…

January 18, 2020 in Accountability, Commitment, Dependability, Fear, How I roll, Personal History.

This is dedicated

Just this morning I asked a friend to listen to me for a time, uninterrupted. I needed to feel some things that have been rumbling within for weeks. We’ve been friends for about 25 years. We’ve been listening to each other regularly, taking turns as each other’s peer counselor for a decade or more. I…

December 31, 2019 in Aging, Appreciation, Commitment, Decisions, How I roll, Intimacy, Love, Personal History, Perspective, Wonder.

Right there

On August 21, 1983, Ronald Reagan was in the White House. The idea that The Police were monitoring Every Breath You Take had a very different meaning than it might today. The virus that causes AIDS was just identified, and the average life expectancy post-diagnosis was 18 months. My friends and I were generally operating…

August 21, 2019 in Appreciation, Commitment, Decisions, Fear, HIV/AIDS, Love, Personal History, Wonder.

Dear Gary

I have known for some time now that I am waiting for an apology. Initially, I felt I was being petty – unreasonable, perhaps. But lately I recognize that just because my expectation will not be met, it is not necessarily unreasonable. Perhaps the offender(s) just need some assistance. So, in the spirit of healing,…

July 19, 2019 in Accountability, Commitment, Decisions, How I roll, Passion, Personal History, Perspective, Politics, Reconciliation, Religion, Truth.

Cause for Hope

In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.” ― Barack Obama Many are working to make Chicago a great place to live, learn, and work. Scores upon scores are contributing their time, talent, and treasure to these efforts in their personal and professional lives. The issues at play…

February 19, 2019 in Accountability, Appreciation, Commitment, Dependability, Passion, Personal History, Work.

Art of the Secret Sauce

Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that can not fly.” — Langston Hughes Finding two people who appreciate performance artists on stage and in recording studios and also hold a deep understanding of culture and community is infrequent but not particularly rare. Finding two such men in one…

February 10, 2019 in Accountability, Commitment, Decisions, Dependability, HIV/AIDS, Passion, Personal History, Pride, Wonder.

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Community Building in Action

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Rose and Paul with Michael Pink, 2014
Rose and Paul with Michael Pink, 2014
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Gary rafting 4
Paul and Gregg 122014
It took the concerted actions of four people to get Paul to a summer event
It took the concerted actions of four people to get Paul to a summer event
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Paul and Gary 122014
Gary at MHS4
Julie, Ann, Gary, and Joyce -- teachers in the 1970s
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Gary at LHS 1971
Gary at MHS3 1975
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Blog Photos

Gary in London 1976
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Rose and Paul with Michael Pink, 2014
Rose and Paul with Michael Pink, 2014
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Our destinies are one.
Our destinies are one.
Paul and Gary 122014
Gary at LHS 1971
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Sketch for a restaurant mural by Paul Mandracchia
Sketch for a restaurant mural by Paul Mandracchia
Paul and Jan 2013 b
Paul Passport to Spain
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Gary 1973 b
Gary rafting 4
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Walter c 1933
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Paul and Rudy 092013
Engelman Hall
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This painting by Paul Mandracchia is a study for a mural on the ceiling of a child's room.
This painting by Paul Mandracchia is a study for a mural on the ceiling of a child’s room.
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Julie, Ann, Gary, and Joyce -- teachers in the 1970s
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Paul joking with our friend, Jan
Paul joking with our friend, Jan
Daffodils 2015
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Leora and Walter c 1933 b
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My dad with Tuffy and me in 1949.
My dad with Tuffy and me in 1949.
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My mother at 92.
My mother at 92.
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Kristina and Gary at MAM
Kristina and Gary at MAM

Gary Over Time

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Gary with Ann Jo
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Gary 1976
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Gary 1973 b
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