Flying HighI sat on the plane last night, traveling home from the dreaded day-job, listening to my iPod as it pleasantly drowned out everything around me. It shuffled through one of my playlists and landed on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ 2012 Same Love.
One of the ‘perks’ of living on the road (and climbing the ranks of airline status programs) is frequent upgrades to first class on many flights. The real perk being free cocktails. I’d had several by the time Same Love began playing and a comforting, warm buzz was nicely burning away the stress of yet another week on the road.
Alcohol tends to mellow me. Meaning, unlike some folks who get loud, or rude, or even angry when drinking, I chill and tend to take on a “Isn’t everything wonderful and right with the world” outlook. It also makes me pretty damn horny. *wink*
Anyhow, the section of lyrics below (which I’ve listened to countless times) really stuck me—again. The last three lines invoked, as they often do, strong feelings of gratitude and hope. Gratitude for the straight men (and women) who are at the forefront of supporting us—we couldn’t do it without you. And, hope that the ideas about/perceptions of gay people continue to grow and shift in the positive direction they have over the last decade or so. I look forward to the day when the only concern gay teenagers face is which boy or girl they’re going to ask to the prom—and not wondering whether they’re good enough, or if it’s safe enough, to attend said prom.
“…The same fight that led people to walk-outs and sit-ins
It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
…When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same but that’s not important
No freedom til we’re equal
Damn right I support it…”
Grif’s Toy (the book)
Firstly, as many of you know, I recently had feedback returned to me from beta readers. Beta reading is a pretty thankless task; folks meticulously read through your work, take the time to make notes (sometimes quite extensive), offer ideas, criticisms, praise (hopefully much more of the latter than the former *smile*) and receive precious little in return. Thus, with that in mind, I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the amazing folks who’ve been so incredibly gracious with their time—please know that I’m eternally grateful to each of you!
Secondly, with said feedback returned, I begin the task of rewrites; i.e. putting some of those amazing ideas and criticisms in place…which will only serve to improve the book and, thus, the reader’s experience.
Lastly, the task of locating a publisher for my novel, and its rather avant-garde subject matter, still looms ahead. But, I can’t really focus on that right now; rewrites are the current priority.
Til later…
Peace,
JLT
#PleasureThroughDenial