Childhood




Spring 1964
My first gay memory: of men hugging.  I'm 3 1/2 years old, living in a small town in Northeastern Indiana.  Dad just got out of the navy, and is working in a factory.

Spring 1965
I chase the boy with the guitar.
Dad throws my Book of Cute Boys out the window.
A vague memory of the Muscles of Morris Street

Summer 1965 
We move to Racine, Wisconsin.  Our house is on Kewaunee Street, near Lake Michigan.

Fall 1965
Kindergarten at Hansche Elementary School. The bodybuilder on the beach.
My first bulge sighting.

Summer 1966
Grandma Davis takes me to Indianapolis to meet  the President of the United States  (The President's not cute.)



Fall 1966
First grade at Hansche Elementary School.  
My parents bring home a male-female couple, and I kiss the boy: What's funny about kissing a cute boy?

Summer 1967
We visit South Carolina and Florida, where I meet the Boy named Twilight.)

Fall 1967
Second grade at Hansche Elementary School. 
The girl with the marvelous dollhouse.
I marry Doug, the boy next door.

Spring 1968
The first boy I tied up
help corrupt a Mean Boy

Summer 1968
 Vacation Bible School: Why I love the word "divorce."
We spend three weeks with my Aunt Nora, and I get a I get a glimpse of Cousin Joe's "shame".
We move to Rock Island, Illinois.  Our house is on 41st Street, just north of Denkmann Elementary School.  I immediately try to find a third grade boyfriend


Fall 1968
Third grade at Denkmann.  
A boy invites me on my first date.
My sister is born, and my first sleepover: Going to Bed with the Boy Next Door.
Indiana for Christmas

Spring 1969
I meet Bill, my first real boyfrienda reformed Mean Boy who lives two blocks away.  Together through sixth grade.

Summer 1969
:A week in Indiana.  Uncle Paul gets married (I see the naked man in the peat bog; My Best Man).  
A week camping in Minnesota.  
Nick rescues me from the Face of Pure Evil
Cruising at the bookmobile

Fall 1969
Fourth grade at Denkmann.  
My first Asian boyfriend.
My  first kiss, from Greg the boy vampire.
Indiana for Thanksgiving and Christmas: A high school boy gives me his underwear.

Spring 1970
Bill and I go on Captain Ernie's Cartoon Showboat: Captain Ernie and his first mate.

Summer 1970
The joys of playing outside
A week in Indiana (The Naked Ghost at the Crossroads).
Camping in Minnesota  and Canada (Roadside beefcake)
My swimming teacher promises Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Nazarene Summer Camp.


Fall 1970
Fifth grade at Denkmann.  
The Naked Indian god at the pow wow
Bill and I become a Mama and a Papa
What is gym class for?
Indiana for Christmas.  I try to see Uncle Edd's Gun


Spring 1971
Judo lessons: I think my judo master is gay
I turn Japanese
Awild night: pancakes, massage, and a wiener
I see Randy  the  Golden Boy, in his Underwear
W visit my Indian relatives in Michigan:  my First Indian Sausage Sighting and BDSM Scene.



 Summer: A week in Indiana: My Grandpa Prater's Wrestling Moves.  Then we visit my Cousin George in South Carolina: "only fools wear pajamas".  On the way back, I fall asleep in a sailor's arms;  Back in Rock Island, Bill and I rebel against  "discovering girls; at Nazarene Summer Camp, The Sanderson Boys get naked.




1971-72

Sixth grade at Denkmann.  I have a crush on Mr. Davis, my "uncle," the math teacher.  Years later I hook up with him.

Indiana for Thanksgiving (Cousin Phil's Boyfriend)

While "babysitting" Brian, I hear about gay people for the first time.

Spring:  During my birthday outing in May, Bill and I find "A Little Bit O'Heaven"


Summer: A week in Indiana, where I get a sausage sighting of the mysterious boy in the Old House, and Cousin Buster and I get God mad;  A week camping in Michigan and Canada (Cousin Phil's Boyfriend).

At Nazarene Summer Camp, Marty shows me how to go past first base 

Back in Rock Island, Bill and I find out about the Football Star's Date with Tarzan.

1972-73

I start seventh grade at Washington Junior High School, about 10 blocks west of our house ( Slow dancing at the canteen; 77 Signs that You're a Fairy)

A sausage sighting of Mr. Barker, who taught health, and a scary Halloween sausage fondling:  Why Corpses are Called Stiffs

Christmas in Indiana: Erotic Story about Me and Grandpa Prater #2.

Spring: I meet my new boyfriend Dan in the girls' locker room.  We're together through 9th grade.  Hookups: at the sleepover; the Boy Named Angel.  Hint of gay potential: My Date Must Be a Boy

Summer: I see two boys kissing at Longview Park Pool;  a week at Nazarene summer camp, a week in Indiana, then a visit to Kentucky (my Kentucky Kinfolk; the story of my uncle and his boyfriend in the Kentucky Hills), and finally a visit to Smokey Mountains National Park (the teenage Indian god)


1973-74

Eighth grade at Washington Junior High.  I go out for wrestling.  Dan and I look for a "good place," where boys can live together without girls, and decide to escape to Arabia

Hookup with Micah, The Bible Boy in the locker room.

Indiana for Christmas (Sausage Sighting of my Cousin Buster).

In May, we streak through a school assembly, and I get a Penis Sighting at a Chinese Restaurant

Summer: Brian writes a secret message on the wall of the school (and what it means);  A week in Indiana, a week camping in Minnesota (the Kensington Runestone in Alexandria), and then Nazarene Summer Camp (I get engaged at Nazarene Summer Camp, and sausage sighting: Brother Dino in the boy's shower room.)

In August, I track down the boy on the Prospect List.




1974-75

Ninth grade at Washington Junior High. Dad explains the Facts of Life.  At a pre-registration weekend at Olivet Nazarene College, the preacher pops a boner.

Dan and I are kept after school by our science teacher; I try to get Phil to sin and go to the altar so I can hug him.

Indiana for Thanksgiving: Sleeping Naked with Cousin Phil.

 I ask Dad for A naked man for Christmas.

Spring: I meet The Estonian Wrestling Brothers, and have mlast wrestling match

Summer: We move to a bigger house on 42nd Street in Rock Island.  My brother and I share a converted attic room ( Finding a private place to have sex with guys)  Dan and I break up;  Nazarene summer camp, then a week in Indiana, including Nazarene Camp Meeting: My grandmother finds me a boyfriend;  I have a crush on the boyfriend of the teenage girl next door, and see him naked at a barbecue.



1975-76

Sophomore year at Rocky High. Warren warns me about gay people (What is a swish?). Trying to convince me to go to work in the factory instead of going to college, Dad takes me to see naked men.

In November, my grandmother dies (My grandmother's gay connection), and I hear the story of My Grandfather and the Male Witch of the Lake of the Woods.

Date with Carl Gustav, the King of Sweden; a squirt gun and a forced kiss while jogging

Summer: Nazarene summer camp, a week in Indiana, then a week camping in Minnesota: On My Knees in a Cute Boy's Bedroom.  Then my first sexual experience, with Todd at music camp in Decorah, Iowa.

A new comic book store opens in town: 
Why is a comic book store like a gay bar?

1976-77

My junior year at Rocky High.  I go out for track.  I try to get with Todd by dating his girlfriend, and meet the rabbi's son who didn't know he was gay..  My favorite teacher is Mr. Manary, and my least favorite is  Mr. Blowfish,   Years later I date his son.

In November, our political science class goes to a criminal trial, where I discover what "gay" means.

In December, I 
catch Cousin Joe in the act, catch the flu, and look for a gay comic.

I start dating Verne, the preacher's son.  We date for about six months.  I get a sausage sighting of Verne in May.

At my brother's sleepover, I sleep with the juvenile delinquent.

Summer: I get my driver's license (What Do You Have Under the Hood?); Nazarene International Institute in Switzerland, where I dance with a leatherboy. and shower with two boys; a week camping in Michigan, a week in Indiana, and an interview at West Point (Arabic and Class Rings).

Back in Rock Island, we investigate the gay ghost of Davenport House.

1977-78

Senior year at Rocky High.  I go to work at the Carousel Snack Bar in the Mall, and apply to colleges. I drop out of the track team, but start weight training.  My boyfriend Verne gets married after gettting a girl pregnant.  His father resigns, and The new preacher discovers homophobia (Trying to Escape Church).  On a pre-registration weekend at Olivet Nazarene College, I encounter a gay waiter.

My second sexual experience, with Tyrone, my new workout buddy   

December: I kiss Brian under the mistletoe.

January: Fond du Lac.

Spring: Professor Penis #6: My music teacher; a sleepover with Danny, my 4th grade crush; gay hint: What is Real?  I Don't KnowSenior Prom: Getting down with a dude


Summer: Coming out: I lost it at the moviesA nude party with the Golden Boy;  a week in Indiana: Tracking down my boyfriend next door.

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