The Paths We Chose In Life

Young man watering plants next to the Henlopen Hotel this morning in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

This morning during my daily walk on the boardwalk in Rehoboth I passed again this young man watering the plants next to the Henlopen Hotel at the end of the boardwalk.

I think I mentioned him in a previous blog.  Many years ago when I used to vacation in Provincetown, Massachusetts I saw a similar young man watering the flowers around the bed and breakfast hotel where he worked.  The first time I saw that young man I thought that could of been me if I had chosen a different path in life.

Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts - 1980

I could have chosen the "gay lifestyle" path of a party-all-the-time, carefree life.  In fact I had the opportunity to chose that lifestyle when on one occasion when the owner of the bed and breakfast where I usually stayed offered me a job managing her crew of six young men who cleaned her apartments.  At that time I had a prestigious, secure and well paying job at Girard Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Me in Provincetown, Massachusetts when I was offered the job - 1980

I was flattered by her offer and briefly considered it even to the point of asking "What would I do during the off season?"  She told me that I would make enough money in season to take the winter months off and spend it in Key West, Florida or, like her, Mexico.  This offer of a chance to change my path in life sounded exciting, exotic and adventurism.  I told her I would think about it and when I got home I told my partner Bill about the offer.  His response was "Are you crazy?"  

"Angels' Landing" - a rental complex in the center of Provincetown where I was offered the head housekeeper job- which was managing a group of young guys who cleaned the aparttments

Well, I always have been impetuous but my common sense usually takes over.  In this case my common sense won out.  I called Angela Calamoris (the women who offered me the job) and told her "Thanks but no thanks."  She said if I ever changed my mind to let her know.

Oh it was tantalizing, believe me.  Over the years since I've often thought how my life would have changed had I taken her up on her generous job offer.  But I went for the sure thing and kept my "secure" job at the bank.

A few years later, after I returned from a three week vacation in Provincetown, my boss at the bank called me into his office.  He told me my job was being eliminated.

I called Angela back and told her I could take her job now.  She was gone.  I was told Angela had sold her large complex called "Angels' Landing" for a million dollars.  She always told me she was going to sell it for that amount of money.  Much to my surprise, she did.  Angela was now living The Life in Mexico.

Who knows?  If I had taken her up on her offer I could now probably be the proud owner of a premier summertime resort rental complex located in the heart of a popular East Coast gay resort.

Today I live in another popular East Coast gay resort.  I work part-time at a gay owned bed and breakfast. I love my job.  I don't water the plants (a woman named Kerri does that.)  I work the front desk.  I love my job.

With some of my co-workers at out Christmas Party last year - I work with the ladies now

Karma.  It's wonderful isn't it?

Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for work.  Someone has to do it.

Olde Time Pictures

Me and my friend Bob McCamley - Provincetown, Mass 1974

Anyone who has been to a seashore town in the summertime knows those Olde Time Photo shops that grab the tourist dollar.

The first time I used one was during my very fist visit to Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1974.  My good friend Bob Mc (all my friends seemed to be named "Bob") and I made the trek to Cape Cod because we heard that the gay life was wonderful.  Well, we found that to be true.

We both loved Cape Cod and Provincetown from the moment we entered it on the main street which was called Commercial Street (not a whole lot of imagination here) on a crowded, summer night.  We couldn't believe the number of people walking in the street but we soon got used to it.

The next day while were were scoping out the situation we stopped at one of those Olde Time Photo shops and got this picture done.  All we needed for props was the cowboy hats.  We already had the western shirts and leather vests.  Remember, we were making our grand debut in the Gay Disneyland of the East Coast.  That's another whole story which I will probably tell in a future blog.

The Olde Time Photo store in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Well, all these many years have passed and I never took advantage of getting another Olde Time photo until yesterday.  Last year I noticed in Rehoboth Beach there are two Olde Time photo shops.  I made a mental note to stop in sometime before the kids got in there.  I don't take good pictures when there are a lot of jumpy and screaming kids around.  That is exactly what happened this past November when I went to J.C. Penney's in Dover to get my Christmas card pictures.  While they were taking my pictures, there were two screaming (and I mean screaming) little girls in crinolines doing cartwheels in my line of vision while I was having my picture taken.  Not a good way to get your picture taken.

Lots of costumes and backdrops to choose from - that saloon girl costume really look interesting

Yesterday was different.  After my walk on the boardwalk (which was over about 8 am), I hung around (actually walked around town) for a couple more hours until the store open at 10 am.

I was their first customer.  I was in luck.  I assumed that I would do the western look again until I saw the range of costumes they had.  So I opted for the Civil War.  The very accommodating young lady asked me "Confederate or Union?"  Well, Union of course.  My great-great grandfather John Tipton was a Union soldier during the Civil War.  He lived in the hills of western North Carolina and was recruiting his fellow neighbors for the Union Cause when he was ambushed and killed by a Confederate Calvary headed by a Colonel Wichter.  I have all this information because his widow, my great-great grandmother Martha "Patty" Bailey Tipton supplied all this information for her application for widow's benefits at the end of the Civil War.  One of her nine children (they had a lot of kids back in those days to help out with the farm work)  was my great-grandfather Hiram Tipton.  One of Hiram's sons was my grandfather Fieldon Tipton.  And of course on of Fieldon's eleven sons was my father Isaac Walter Tipton, Sr.  So here I am in honor of my great-great grandfather John Tipton 1830-1863.

Me channeling my great-great grandfather John Tipton 2010

Sumptuous Day

Ron and Bob at La Quetzalteca Restaurant, Millsboro, DE

Today was one of those rare days, the weather was perfect.

Gone was the energy sapping humidity.

Gone was the oppressive 90 plus degree heat.

The sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky as I arrived this morning at the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach for my daily walk.  I had no trouble walking the length of the boardwalk four times for a total of four miles.  I didn't work up once drop of sweat.

At the end of my walk I felt I could do it again but decided not to risk another injury like I had earlier in the week.  I think I pinched a nerve in my hip bone.  The pain was excruciating for a day but gradually subsided the next day until it was almost gone today.

For lunch I met my friends Bob, Jack and Paul at La Quetzalteca in Millsboro.  This is becoming a weekly occurrence.  We will have to stop meeting like this or people are going to start to talk.

After lunch I dropped Bob off at his home in Milton just in time for him to say goodbye to his house guests who were ending a week stay at his historic home.

When I got home I took my afternoon nap.  Yesterday my afternoon nap was three hours.  Wow.  I was dead to the world too when I woke up.  I did a little better today.  Only an hour.

When I got up I had the energy to attack the overgrown weeds in my flower beds that got away from me this summer because of the heat.

After an hour or so of major weed pulling I took yet another walk in the development behind me.  Man oh man, this weather is so conducive to a walk.  I love it.

Now here I sit writing this blog.  As some of you probably noticed, I removed the music from my blog.  I like the music but I noticed when I bring my blog up in someone else's house, the music is annoying.  My friend Wayne told me it drives him nuts.  I thought he was nuts but maybe he was onto something.  So, for the time being, the music has been removed.  All feedback is appreciated.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day like I had today.

Each day is a gift.  I take nothing for granted.  I'm ready for another beauty tomorrow.

Come Out Anderson

Anderson Cooper, CNN  News Anchor - still in the closet

Anderson Cooper is a CNN news anchor.  He is an excellent reporter.  Telegenic, knowledgeable, and not afraid to tell the truth when reporting the news.  

I first noticed Anderson Cooper during his reporting of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.  He was the first reporter who cut through the BS and told it like it was.  It was so refreshing to watch a newsman actually report the real news.  Too many of our newscasters are in bed with their "sources."  A good example of this faux "newsman" is David Gregory of MSNBC news.  This is the same "newsman" who was on the stage during the White House Correspondents Dinner doing some kind of herky jerky ("Elaine" on Seinfeld) dance with Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove.  When I saw that travesty, Gregory lost all creditability with me for that shameless suck up display.

From what I've seen of Anderson's reporting, he's not afraid to take on the powers that be.  I respect him for that.  However, there is one small problem.  I am quite sure Anderson is gay.  Every time I see him on TV my GAYDAR meter goes bonkers.  Anderson, who lives with a hunky Significant Other, has yet to come out.  In other words, Anderson is still playing it safe.  He's still in the closet.  

Hey Anderson, here's a message:  Come out, come out wherever you are.  Actually, no one will call all that much.  You coming out will have about as much effect on your viewership as Ricky Martin coming out.  Your sexual orientation is already a known fact Anderson.  Your news reporting chops are the best.  You won't lose your job.  It's safe to come out now. Witness the two example below:

Rachel Maddow - host of the "Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC - out and proud

Rachel, lover her or hate her (I love her by the way.)  This woman has more balls than all the Tom Cruises, John Travoltas, and Anderson Coopers of this world combined.  You go girl!

Thomas Roberts, MSNBC daytime news anchor and former CNN newsman

Thomas, who I recently discovered while watching MSNBC during the day, is a hunk and a half and an excellent newsman.  Looks, personality, knowledge and gravitas galore.  Thomas is out and unapologetic about being out.  He doesn't wear a sign around his neck saying "I'm queer, I'm here, get used to it" but he is out in a matter-of-fact way that doesn't interfere with his broadcasts.  

This is the way I've always conducted my life.  I've never been to a gay pride parade in my life.  I have been to two gay equality marches.  I went to the first one in Washington D.C. in 1979 when there was still great danger to exposing ones self as a gay man.  I remember clearly that when we started the march my heat was in my throat and my stomach was full of butterflies.  I wasn't sure that I could walk without my knees shaking, that's how scared I was of being assaulted during the march.  When I saw the march route lines with D.C. cops on motorcycles, I felt a little safer.  Not much, but a little.

My next public display was this past October when I attended the Equality March in Washington D.C. Thirty years later, our march route wasn't lined with cops on motor cycles.  The march was a joyous occasion joined by many straight family members and friends who unabashedly supported their gay brethren.  This march was matter of fact.  Gone was the fear of assault or of being outed.

Yep. That's me folks in front of the White House, beads and all.  Totally out.

A "few" friends and supporter for the Equality March in Washington, D.C. 

Me and my friend Bob (another former fellow banker) resting our tired bones at the Capitol 

So Anderson, why don't you join your fellow newsmen (and women) and come out?  In fact,, why don't you join your fellow GBLT peers and throw open that closet door you've been living in all these years?  The only think you have to gain is your freedom.  Plus, you will be setting a good example for all those other gays and lesbians who are still fearfully hiding in their closets.  The only way we are going to defeat homophobia in this country is for every gay man and woman to come out of the closet.  

It has been proven that once those who still harbor a fear of gays and lesbians do so out of ignorance and because "they don't know one personally."  Once that closet door is forever broken down, homophobia will disappear over night.  

Come out Anderson.

Fuck Ken Mehlman

Ken Mehlman - Coward

Yeah, I said it.  My apologies to the regular readers of this blog who are offended by my gutter language but there is no other way to express my contempt for former Republican National Committee chairman and Bush/Rove flunky Ken Mehlman for coming out of his gay closet.

Today on the news I listened and watch Christopher Barron of GOP Proud say "Ken Mehlman showed great courage by coming out."  Excuse me?  Great courage?  Great courage is coming out when it makes a difference.  Great courage is not coming out when the coast is clear.

David Roberts, who is gay himself, was anchoring the MSNBC show that I was watching today.  He was interviewing the same Christopher Barron that I mentioned before.  He asked Mr. Barron why Ken Mehlman did not respond to his request for an interview.  I know that answer to that question.  Ken Mehlman did not respond to his request for an interview because he is still a coward.  Mehlman thinks he can do one fund raiser and his conscience is clear.

The damage the Ken Mehlmans of this world do is vast and unrecoverable.  How many gays and lesbians have been beaten and killed because they chose not to live in a closet?  They are the courageous ones.  Not a mealy mouthed apologist for the hate driven Republican campaigns that brought the Bush/Rove disaster to the White House.  How many gays have lost their livelihood because they were truthful about who they were instead of selling their soul for the almighty dollar?  How many have been kicked out of the military by the absurd Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that is still in effect today?

When you think courage think Matthew Shepard.  Ken Mehlman is human flotsam.

Ken Mehlman give prostitution a bad name.

Am I mad?  You're damn right I'm mad.

Rehoboth Beach Photo Essay August 26, 2010

Rehoboth Beach Thursday, August 26, 2010 - a perfect beach day

Just got back from the beach folks!

This morning I hung around a few hours longer.  In fact I didn't leave until noon.  Usually I leave before 8 am or 9 am at the latest.

The reason I stayed later was that I wanted to get one of those "Olde Timey" photos of myself.  The last one I had done was in 1974.  The Old Time Photo shop didn't open until 10 am.  So I hung around.

Everything went well with the photo.  Only thing was there was no getting away from the fact that I'm not 33 years old anymore as I was in 1974.  This is 2010 and I'm 68 years old and the Olde Timey photo didn't hide that fact.  I'm hiding it, that's why you don't see the picture on this blog posting.  I may or may not put it on a future blog posting.  I have to think about this.

In the meantime, here is my daily photo essay of beach life after 9 am.  Please note that the "doughnut" sign has been corrected and now says "doughnut."  Someone must have read my blog.

Correcttion, instead of "dougnut" it is now "doughnut."  

Olde Timey Photos

Want to throw some money away?  

Looking for a wave.....any wave

Beach reading

"Play ball!"

Lifeguards on duty....cozy

Daddy take the Princess to the beach

Staking a claim.....sexy stuff

Have a great day.  See you tomorrow!

Boardwalk Adventures

What's a "Dougnut?" I think I'll take the water, thank you.

Again, this morning, as has become my habit of the past few weeks I left for the boardwalk in Rehoboth immediately after breakfast.

The weather this morning was again cool and overcast, almost perfect conditions for a brisk walk on the boardwalk.

I arrived at my usual parking spot beside the Cape Henlopen Hotel at the north end of the boardwalk.

I park my car, get my fleece sweat jacket and put it on, loop my camera over my shoulders and I'm on my way.

The boardwalk this morning is again sparsely populated.  Only the hardcore exercisers like me.  The lack of sunshine does not deter us from our morning walk.

There was one tourista family on the beach, tippy toeing into the waves.  They weren't going to let a few clouds spoil their day.

A family braves the waves

The waves were crashing to the shore again today, like yesterday.  A father and son tried their luck at fishing on the beach.

Early morning fishing on the beach

Even on cloudy days like today, the colors of the landscape are stunning.  I tried to capture the peacefulness of the muted colors of the far horizon with my camera.

All I needed was a seagull or two in this picture but they didn't cooperate this morning

I began my brisk walk to the other end of the boardwalk, 1 1/4 miles away.  About 2/3rd's there I felt something "give" in my right hip.  Uh oh.  I either sprained or pulled a muscle.  Or else my 68 year old hip is rebelling against all this daily exercise I've been subjecting it too.  Whatever, I was now limping.

Oh joy, no longer was I the Cool Guy passing all the other walkers on the boardwalk.  I was just another Old Guy limping along the boardwalk.  My age has caught up with me.

I gamely finished my walk to the end of the boardwalk then took a break and went down to the beach to watch the waves roll in.  As I was watching the waves roll in, the pain from my hip was rolling in and out making me woozy.  

Oh this was going to be fun.  Now I had to walk all the way to the other end of the boardwalk (1 1/4 miles away - just a reminder) and try not to look to OLD.  

I began my walk.  It got worse.  Now my hip was really hurting.  I looked for a bench with a view of the ocean.  Most of the benches have a view of the grass on the dunes that separate the boardwalk from the beach.  I don't care for that view.  

I found a spot.  I wiped the bench dry from the overnight accumulation of dew and whatever sand was there from short guys standing on the bench as they often do on the boardwalk.    

I seated myself and listened to the waves roll in and the sea gulls get things sorted out above me.  Just then I heard the screams and squeals of little kids.  Oh where was THÅT coming from?  I turned around and looked above.  I was sitting on a bench in front of a hotel or condo with balconies.  My eyesight followed the screams and squeals and sure enough, there was three little kids, all under the age of five, vying for the attention of the adults on the balcony with them.  Now I know why kids scream.....they want attention.  I don't blame the kids, they're just being kids.  But this isn't something I needed this morning with waves of pain from my sore hip wafting over me.

Time to go home.  

I left.  Traffic wasn't too bad (for a change) on Route 1.  When I got home Bill asked me why I got home so early.  I told him I sprained something in my hip.

As I sit here now typing this blog entry, the pain isn't too bad.  I have a terrific headache though.  I'm a little nauseous.  I don't know what that's from.  But at least their aren't any screaming kids around here.

I'll need to get some rest.  I'm working at the hotel tonight.  I hope the pain is gone by then.  Or else it's going to be a long night.