Sex and social media
49 years ago, around this time of year, mid-September, I discovered I was gay. It was a shock, but I also knew it was true. I knew I had to hide it. My middle class Irish Catholic family would not understand, especially since I heard all the derogatory statements about gay people with the justification for gay bashing.

It was 1976 or 77, I was surrounded by information regarding the sexual revolution of the 70s, and I wanted some. I suppose it was 77 when I went to the rest area off Route 80, about 100 yards away from my house. I was warned about the spot, but it was a spot that, during the day, we used it as a shortcut, my friends and I. And at night, it was major cruising for men on the down low.

The first time I went at night, my parents were out, nobody else was home I was on my own. I strolled down the ramp into the walk-through of the rest area. A car followed me, and I thought it was Peter Plauchino, an older neighbor that I knew. But it was not and on Gunther Avenue the car pulled up, and I got in.

It was the first time I had contact with another man, and it was just a grope and a feel on my part, but it was my initiation. The driver lived in Clifton and wanted to know if I wanted to go home with him, but to me at that time in my life, Clifton was next to Pakistan and too far away for me.

I never saw him again, but I did meet other men, sometimes a few times, over the next couple of years. Married men, fathers would take me home, and I would have sex with them in their bedrooms while their wives were away. I thought nothing of it, and it was all fun and games, and it was for the longest time.

I figured out all the places that my parents wanted me about or places where I could go have sex, and I was 14 years old and quite horny. Nothing terrible happens, though there were awkward moments like when Edward Luther Williams was forcing men out of the men’s room at the Garden State Plaza.

Edward Luther Williams was a security guard who was married to my neighbor, but they had separated, and with the banging of the doors of the stalls, I was out, and I passed him and he looked at me right in the eye, and nothing was said, and I just kept going. I’m fairly certain that he probably told his kids to avoid me because I was a pervert.

Meanwhile, in present-day Manhattan…Mike has found a man his name is Wode. I’m sure it’s William Wode, but online he’s Sarge Wode. And I am genuinely happy for Mike. It’s actually a relief, like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
He wants what Bill and I have, so it’s been a work in progress for the past 25 years, I think Mike wants to just add water instant relationship thing, which I hope works out. I am sitting on the sidelines, keeping my mouth shut. I’ve seen some thing,s but I will not say anything.
Once again, I admit that I am glad that Mike is not a reader, and this blog so it’s been mentioned several times that this here blog does not register on his radar.