I dont think there is anyone on the planet more thankful than I this Thanksgiving. In fact I cant imagine anyone having more to be thankful for than I. I had parents who were just amazing, in every possible regard. They gave us everything they possibly could while we were growing up and were supportive and loving through to their very last breaths. I have amazing sisters, who are always there for me, through thick and thin and whom I love very much. I am so fortunate to have been raised in the loving environment I was. (Thanks Mom and Dad seems so inadequate.) I am thankful for the second chance I was given in school. The entirety of school years pointed to a drop-out in-the-making, and somehow, with my last gasp (the SATs), I pulled my ass out of the fire and somehow managed to make something out of myself. For this I thank the stars above because this was in fact miraculous. In grad school, I miraculously managed to shine and open doors to Harvard AND MIT! What were the chances of someone who was truant more than present throughout high school landing a job at Harvard Medical School and MIT Chemistry Department? For that I am thankful to Jon Zubieta and Ken Karlin, my mentors who helped make a success out of me. I worked there with some of the best and brightest and most well rounded students and post-docs on the planet. Thanks to John and Gill and Ash and a whole host of great graduate students who taught me much and were great friends. Those schools happen to be in the most progressive city and progressive state in the union, where marriage equality was shepherded through the State House by the best, most supportive governor in the nation. Thank you Governor Patrick and State Legislators who made Massachusetts the first in the nation to treat us and our relationships with dignity! I managed to parlay my academic credentials into becoming a leading voice for gay rights issues at what was then the most prominent blogging community in the nation. And I do think the kerfuffle I started there was a harbinger of change in the attitude towards marriage equality at the White House. At least after that tussle they learned we would get ugly with the Democrats if they didnt change their stance on the marriage issue. Thanks to all the GLBT folks who contributed on fridays at DailyKos during those years and even greater thanks to all our amazing allies, who ultimately pushed our battle nationwide and led us to where we are today, on the cusp of national equality. We really made a difference! I am also very thankful for the partners Ive had over the past 25 years. Ive learned much from them and from the relationships we shared. You helped smooth off my rough edges. I was there for you as much as I could be or was capable of being, and sadly, for a few that wasnt enough. I am thankful for those lessons learned. And although it took 25 years, I will now be a much better partner to whomever happens to catch my eye. Ending on that high note is probably too much to hope for...
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 01:31:34 +0000
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