La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Forty-two years ago today, I went with a friend, Richard, to afternoon T-dance at Chaps Boston and met the hunk of my life. Richard wanted me to pick someone up, which would have been a first for me in a gay bar. I had no intention of doing so. Each time Richard circled the bar hoping to get lucky himself, he would ask me if I had found anyone. I kept telling him I wasn’t looking until finally I said, “I’m not picking anyone up but if I were it would be that guy over there.” I pointed to San Geraldo who was standing on a long raised platform surrounded by a heavenly glow.
Richard said, “The hunk by the pinball machines?” So much for the heavenly glow. Richard (known by many as The Caustic Queen) said, “You might want to aim a little lower.”
A few minutes later I went to say “hi” to [S], someone I had dated (i.e., had sex with) for a few months. I was the one who ended it (he thought it was love). The hunk from the pinball machine was there, too. I returned to my original spot and when Richard circled the next time, I told him, “Well, the hunk from the pinball machine is friends with [S], so forget that.”
Just then, the hunk from the pinball machine passed behind me. We smiled and he squeezed my elbow before stopping about 20 feet away. Richard’s serpentine tongue scooped an ice cube out of his glass. I said, “Fuck [S].”
We barely spent one night apart after that. Most of his friends didn’t think we were a good fit. Most of my friends thought I was getting carried away. We are a perfect fit and I did get carried away.
Hoy, hace cuarenta y dos años, fui con un amigo, Richard, a una tarde de T-dance en Chaps Boston y conocí al galán de mi vida. Richard quería que recogiera a alguien, lo que habría sido la primera vez para mí en un bar gay. No tenía intención de hacerlo. Cada vez que Richard daba vueltas alrededor del bar con la esperanza de tener suerte, me preguntaba si había encontrado a alguien. Seguí diciéndole que no estaba mirando hasta que finalmente dije: “No voy a recoger a nadie, pero si lo hiciera, sería ese tipo de allí”. Señalé a San Geraldo que estaba de pie sobre una larga plataforma elevada rodeada de un resplandor celestial”.
Richard dijo: “¿El galán de las máquinas de pinball?” Tanto para el resplandor celestial. Richard (conocido por muchos como The Caustic Queen) dijo: “Es posible que desee apuntar un poco más bajo”.
Unos minutos más tarde fui a saludar a [S], alguien con quien había salido (es decir, con quien había tenido relaciones sexuales) durante unos meses. Yo fui quien lo terminó (él pensó que era amor). El galán de la máquina de pinball también estaba allí. Regresé a mi lugar original y cuando Richard rodeó la próxima vez, le dije: “Bueno, el galán de la máquina de pinball es amigo de [S], así que olvídalo”.
En ese momento, el galán de la máquina de pinball pasó detrás de mí. Sonreímos y me apretó el codo antes de detenerse a unos 20 pies de distancia. La lengua serpentina de Richard sacó un cubo de hielo de su vaso. Dije: “La mierda [S]”.
Apenas pasamos una noche separados después de eso. La mayoría de sus amigos no pensaban que éramos una buena opción. La mayoría de mis amigos pensaron que me estaba dejando llevar. Encajamos perfectamente y me dejé llevar.
• Tenemos pocas fotos de nuestro primer año juntos. Esto fue 10 meses después en la casa de los padres de SG en Pipestone, Minnesota. Me trataron como familia desde el principio. La foto superior fue tomada un par de semanas después en Seattle, Washington, en la casa de la querida amiga de SG, Joan.
• Fuimos a pescar al pueblo de Ihlen, Minnesota, con los padres de SG. (Haz clic aquí.) ¿Recuerda cuando las cámaras tomaron esa foto al final del rollo de película?
Lovely story.
I’ve probably said it before, but your relationship’s as old as Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Chris Evans, Justin Timberlake, Meghan Markle, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Alba, Serena Williams, Alicia Keys, Rami Malek, Paris Hilton, Elijah Wood, Kelly Rowland, Amy Schumer, Jennifer Hudson and – erm – Pitbull…
Congratulations! Jx
Jon:
Our relationship is as old as some of our friends! (Just 3 years younger than Cristina and Alfonso.) Thanks.
Awwwwwww!!! 🥰🥰🥰
Wicked Hamster:
Mwah
Kismet. I can’t stop smiling at the photos of you two together and of how you met. Forty-two years and still going strong is magic … Kismet.
Shirley:
The best decision I ever made.
Look at you young things!! Congratulations on forty-two years – that’s an accomplishment! My relationship began (39 years ago) in a bar, too. Well, more like a beer joint. 🙄
Kelly:
Some of the best relationships started in bars.
A wonderful love story, congrats on 42 years, many more to come.
David:
Thanks so much!
I love this! Thank you for sharing it with us! <3
Jennifer:
Thank you for coming along.
I’m so glad you found that hunk and that he is my cousin. Also so happy that both of you “walked right into” our family when we finally met a few years ago .🥰🥰 42 years is a long time,but we beat you with 6 years ❤️
Elin:
The good looks run in your family. I am so grateful to be part of your incredible family.
Awwww, look at you two crazy young kids! Congrats on 42 years together! And oh yeah, that last photo on a roll of film, LOL.
Debra:
I wish we had more photos from that year. We even had a huge 1st anniversary party. Not one photo.
Great old pictures (not THAT old) and a great story! You two were apparently made for each other. 🙂
Steve:
Oh, yeah, the pictures are THAT old. I remember as a child going through my parents’ yellowing photo albums. We now have our own yellowing photo albums.
Love that top photo. So happy you found each other. Kismet.
Mary:
I’m grateful every day.
Thank you for sharing! I love love stories and how-we-met stories and your story was adorable.
Rachael K:
I do love sharing our stories.
And the rest is history!
Congratulations guys!
Jim:
Thanks so much!
Never heard the story of how you met. Such sweetness!
Carole:
I remember it as if it were yesterday.
Yes, I guess that’s how it goes. I remember exactly when, where and how I met Todd too.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you both have seasoned magnificently! I hope you enjoyed your day.
Deedles:
Maybe a bit too salty now, but thanks! The day was perfect.
Remember salt is a seasoning and a preservative so win-win.
That’s love; and it’s a wonderful thing. Congrats on the milestone!!
And I think you both lucked out!
Bob:
I think you’re right. We both did luck out.
How lucky are you and SG to have found each other so early in your lives — congratulations on 42 years together! Time to buy each other some nice clocks or watches, according to Hallmark’s list of traditional anniversary gifts….
Tundra Bunny:
Thanks. We have never bought eachother anniversary gifts, but we try to have some sort of celebration every year.
Happy Anniversary dear Friends!!!!!!!!!!
Now that just may be the best hook up…or pairing to date I’ve heard.
Mistress Borghese:
On our way to meet friends last night, SG asked me if I remember any details of our first day/night together. I remembered it all… even what we were wearing … and the undressing!
Happy anniversary. Some great photos.
Kirk:
I wish we had more photos. The one time in our lives we didn’t record with a camera.
Happy anniversary, guys!
I remember that line (Those relationships never last), spoken to me by straight women who were between relationships at the time. The irony was lost on them. We just celebrated 40 years.
Walt the Fourth:
There is a smug satisfaction when I think about those who said it wouldn’t last… and the specific ones who said it remained single. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Interesting.
Happy Anniversary ” boys”! I love that top photo.
My brother must have been with his partner Mike for over 50 years !
Frances:
Wow. That’s a long time, even more so for a gay couple in those days.
Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t get time to read this yesterday 🙂 I love your story, and I think it’s charming that SG squeezed your elbow (that wasn’t a euphemism, right? Ha!).
Judy C:
He really did squeeze my elbow!
Mitchell, I LOVED reading this post and looking at the photos of the two of you. Congratulations!
mcpersonalspace54:
Thanks so much. I do wish we had more photos from that first year.
You two were meant to be ❤️
Natalie:
Well, we’re both glad it happened.
What a wonderful story; happy anniversary!
Chrissoup:
Thanks so much. There’s more to tell. The next day was so romantic.
Indeed! Isn’t it grand when the right person comes along!!!!! Happy Anniversary!
Ron Troke:
You and Jim certainly know all about that!
Such a sweet story and simple perfection – glad you boys followed your own instincts and hearts and ignored the naysayers. You have a relationship and life to be envied.
Sassybear:
There was something there from the start. Thanks. We’re both so grateful.
Love it, thanks for sharing the link as I had missed it last year.
tobyo:
So glad you checked out the story!