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90s
Foreign languages came easy for me. My eager mind soaked them up. Russian, Spanish and Japanese are my favorites. I was a linguistic sponge.
In college, I put my love of writing to use. I studied journalism. Soon, I was on the university newspaper. After learning the ropes, I became the editor. I hated all the responsibility, though, and switched jobs to managing editor, where I could still write.
I devoted my time to the university's nascent gay and lesbian student group. This was way back when it was still weird and taboo. Not trendy like today. Unity GLF was a friendly group. During its 3rd year, the group voted me president. I enjoyed leadership, although I enjoyed being the communications director much more. I served on speaking panels and committees as the token queer.
In my "joiner" phase of college, during my junior year, I had a hopping social life. I dated a wonderful guy, Joel, for a little over two years. He was a great guy and my first long-term BF.
After a few months doing public relations, which I'd studied in school, I got bored with the bayous and backwaters of Louisiana. I saw a bit of the world: 3 years teaching English in Koyasan, Japan. It was an amazing, enlightening experience. Koyasan is a beautiful mountain top Buddhist retreat. Hundreds of smiling fat buddhas greeted me every morning as I walked to work.
Aside: One of my favorite memories was January 1, '96. I rang in the New Year at a 1,000 year-old temple with my DJ/surfer/monk pal. (I rang a huge tower bell to scare away the evil spirits.)
I returned to the U.S. in '98 after traveling through Europe. The next year, I got my masters at LSU. My best friend, Jim, was very generous to me by providing a place for me to stay while I was at school in Baton Rouge.
00s
By then, I had a knack for playing all the requisite academic games. I was chummy with faculty and staff, worked as faculty/student liaison and somehow got elected class president.
My first job out of school was totally unrelated to my field. I accepted a position as teaching assistant for my university's Study Abroad program. It was a fun, fruitful summer for me. I studied Irish literature, some mythology and some theatre. Despite a painful tower climbing accident on an island off the East Coast, I had a wonderful time.
I lived and studied at the same school as Oscar Wilde. It seemed very appropriate that I should walk the same cobbled streets as one of my bon vivant heroes.
Right now, I am living in the Washington, DC Metro area. My first taste of DC was during an internship in the winter of '00. I was a communications intern there. Highlight: getting a personal invitation to view the White House Christmas decorations. (I went with friendly group, including Chuck Close, Itzhak Perlman, Ernest J. Gaines, Barbara Kingsolver, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Maya Angelou.)
The internship was a blast. I stayed here and got a job in the burbs. I got to run a marathon.
The Present
Just last year, I made a new best friend, Henry. He's is the kind of person I want in my life... because he inspires me to be a truly better human being. I love him. Oh -- and he makes me laugh a bunch, too.
When Henry got called to serve his country in the military reserves, it was a major wakeup call for me emotionally. My life went from Technicolor to Plato's puppet show shadows.
Now, I'm in my third year on the job at the elementary school library. I love the kids. Love being their "guybrarian."
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