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I hope I haven't "shocked" anybody here that I have an ex-wife... we met when we were still teenagers in Princeton, NJ, back in 1973 (we were both 19 back then; but hey, that still qualifies as a "teenager" - right?); got married in '81, divorced in '87.
Most people here are aware that I'm quite open about being a gay guy. Personal growth and self-discovery (including increasing awareness about one's own sexuality) is a PROCESS, not an "event"... Hence Laurie & I were able to part ways in 1987, while still keeping our friendship intact.
She recently came out to the San Francisco Bay Area for a visit, bringing along her new husband (husband #3, a wonderful German guy -- husband #2 was Canadian)!
As Auntie Mame once said, "Life is a banquet, but most poor fools are starving to death!" (I hope I got the quote right - LOL)
This pic was taken just last Tues. night, at San Francisco's Verdi Club -- a place that not only teaches Swing dancing, but also has live Swing music from 9:30 - midnight. My brother and sister-in-law also showed up, plus a couple of long-time dance friends of mine, as well as Uwe & Laurie... We had a blast!!
- Ken
Oh, that is such a cool picture, Ken. And I loved reading your brief story of life - it's good to know you and she have made a way through this journey and remained good friends... I love to dance and this looks like a lot of fun. If I ever make it to San Fran, can I look you up and will you take me dancing?
Absolutely, you're on, buddy!! The Verdi Club, the place where that pic was taken of me and Laurie Swing dancing, is just 5 blocks from my house... their lessons followed by live Swing band music happens every Tues. night. Just look up "Verdi Club" on YouTube, and you'll find several fun little videos (one of my favorites being something with the word, "Auditions" in it).
Thanks for the nice reply, Fitz!
- Ken
I'm making plans to head out your way next Sept/Oct. My wife and I will celebrate our 30th year married... and my son and daughter-in-law are moving to Vegas in a few weeks - so I've always wanted to travel across country - and my destination of choice would be San Francisco... so, to include a night of dancing with the likes of you would be the icing on my cake... my wife does not like to dance... I do not understand that. She feels awkward dancing. She says she has two left feet and she is also a Baptist... I don't buy it, but I guess I did cuz I married her...
Wow - love it on many levels: ( ewe lil' groover ewe ) - LOL - if we love someone & we part amiably, I think we hold that love, till we die + having fun is key & boy is dancing fun - great pic. of living life to the full ... cheers CEM.
Thank you so much for the kind words, CEM., I really appreciate it!
There's a silly old saying in our local dance community, it goes something like this: "Dancing is the most fun thing that 2 people can do together, while still remaining clothed and vertical!" (LOL)
Some of the very best times in my life have happened on a hardwood dance floor -- all I need is a great deejay, a fun partner (or 2 or 3 or 4...), and a pair of shoes that don't stick to the floor!! (I just went C&W dancing last night with my rainbow cowboy buddies; so believe me, I know what I'm talking about - LOL)
- Ken
Hi Ken,
Looks like your having a blast there on the dance floor and so cool that you had the opportunity to dance with your X.I know you mentioned your past to me before but I must have forgotten that you first met your ex wife here in NJ!Looking at this pic kinda shows me what I missed the last time I was out your way around a month ago since you offered to take me to an event.Regardless I can see you are in your element here and plain having a great time :)Hope all has been well with you since we last saw each other my friend.As always love your posts here and most important keep having fun :) Cheers
Mârk
Hey Mark,
Yes, it is indeed true that Laurie and I first met at a placed we both worked at in the town of Princeton, NJ (I lived and worked there for a year plus 2 months, from April of '73 - June of '74)... It was at a private nursing home called Tenacre Foundation (basically a Christian Science nut-house - LOL).
Follow Ups:
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(And yes, if you click on the Gallery, you'll see a lot of pics of various events of the past, including occasionally pics of me in there!)
As always, GREAT to hear from you, Mark -- and thanks again for the nice reply!!
Long Lox 4ever,
Ken
Hi again Ken!
Thanks for that link as I was looking at some of the pictures,2014 and 2003 in particular,and couldn't help but see two pics of what had to be you in the 2003 set.You wore a yellow shirt that day and your hair was quite long especially only being three years out from your infamous Y2K cut.lol.Looks like everyone was having a great time:)I'll have to set aside time on a future trip to take you up on your offer but having two left feet makes me a bit uneasy.He he.I never ever thought of myself as graceful on the dance room floor.
As for your years in Princeton,NJ I was only going on 11 years old when you arrived in town mid '73.I don't even think I have ever been to Princeton back then that I know of.Kind of funny thinking for that year you were less than an hour drive from my house!So close, yet so far!To think how many decades passed before I eventually got to know you.Thank you MLHH :)Interesting where life takes you over time.
Anyway I'll look more into that link later on and thanks for passing it along.Enjoy your days off this week:)Hairy Cheers
Mârk
Ken;
Thanks for sharing the wonderful photo and the equally wonderful story !!
Walter
Thanks, Walter! Laurie's new husband took that pic. His name is Uwe (pronounced apparently like "oo-vah"). They live in a suburb town of Hanover, Germany; so it was a rare opportunity to see her, and to finally get a chance to meet him (they got married about 2 years ago)!
- Ken
Hey Ken,
Cool picture of you and your ex-wife dancing. Looks like you had some practice when you were together. Cool that you are still good friends) Quoting Auntie Mame definitely qualifies you for the gay brotherhood. My favorite movie when I was a kid. Oh and it has to be Rosiland Russell,although both Lucille Ball and Lauren Bacall did fine jobs portraying Mame! My quote is "Life is a dance, follow the lead and don't step on any toes!"
peace,
jonalbear
(lurking too longand finally replying)
LOL, what a great reply, jonalbear, I totally love it!
I agree with you that the Rosalind Russell version is the best (even though I of course love Lucille Ball normally); but I didn't know there was a Lauren Bacall version, too -- I'll have to check it out!
I also love love LOVE your quote!!
Thanks again for the fun reply, jonalbear, always a treat to hear from you!!
- Ken
Ken,
Lauren Bacall portrayed Mame on Broadway only. I don't believe there is any video documentation of it that I know of!
peace,
jonalbear!
Hi Ken,
I wasn't shocked but pleasantly surprised! I think it's so awesome that you and your ex-wife are still friends! It certainly sounds like everyone had a wonderful time! If I ever get out there I will definitely have you teach me some swing dancing! Maybe by then my hair will be long enough to be swishing all over the place!
Ted
LOL, great imagery, Ted! You'll notice, however, that I do tend to braid my hair before going onto a dance floor (I've WHACKed many a dance partner in the face with my hair when I was first growing it long; so I've learned the hard way that they appreciated it when I tied my hair back - LOL).... The longer my hair has gotten, the more likely I am to braid, bun, or do a segmented ponytail (tying it LOW at the nape of the neck), or even tucking it under a cowboy hat!
East Coast Swing is the easiest of the Swing dances to learn, as far as starting out goes. West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Carolina Shag, St. Louis Shag, Texas Push, and other forms of Swing dancing are a bit harder to learn in the beginning. But, they're all a heck of a lot of fun (I only know ECS, WCS, and a tiny bit of Lindy - AKA "jitterbug")... In the UK they do the Jive; but I don't care for the look of that dance (too "prissy"-looking for my tastes - LOL)!
Thanks for the nice reply, Ted -- and yes, if we ever do meet each other some day, I'll be happy to teach you some basic Swing dance moves!
- Ken
Hi Ken,
Yes, I did notice that your hair is braided in all of your dancing photos! Very interesting to know about the different types of dances and the difficulty of each! I do appreciate the offer of some instruction! Keep on dancin'!
Ted
My niece sent me this pic earlier this month, taken off a poster that was advertising our local Castro Street Fair (from Sun., Oct. 5th)... I tried to include the whole poster; but, me being quite computer-stupid, I was only able to share this small pic (one of 4 images of dancers that were on the poster).
I just HAPPEN TO BE dancing with a woman here; but the poster itself has other images of Country & Western dancers, including of same-sex dance partners, as well as line dancing (large groups of people dancing choreographed routines). The event takes place outdoors, the portable dance floor which is set up every year in the same place (in the parking lot behind the landmark Castro Theater)... and prior to my niece sending me a pic of the poster, I had no clue I was even on it!
OK, enough of my dance-aholic addiction -- time to get back to the topic of HAIR...
- Ken
It's nice when ex-spouses can remain friends.
Yes, I agree!! Thanks for the nice reply!
- Ken
Hey Ken,
I'm glad you guys can still have a good time...
... you looked like you were having lots of fun....
.... I never got into dancing, but I do like the Big Band music of the 40s.....
Keep growin and flowin..... The Spaf Man
Thanks, Spaf Man -- and I love the Big Band music from the '40s era, too!!
- Ken