Fifty years ago this month I made my first visit to Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Fifty years ago, think about that period of time. I am indeed one of the lucky few to have survived in life this long.
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| My Old Time Photo taken on my first visit to Provincetown in 1973 |
Those were the carefree days when most of us thought we would live forever. At least I did. I gave little thought to being old.
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| Me in my much younger days at Herring Cove, National Seashore Park, Provincetown, Mass. I weigh the same but my body doesn't look like this now. No more showing off at Herring Cove should I return! |
In fact I never believed that I would live past sixty years old. And yet here I am at the very old age of eighty-one, one year older than our often derided president who at eighty is often touted as "too old to run for president."
Well, I can talk better that Old Joe but I can't walk much better. I really struggle to walk up stairs. Recently I found that if I grasp the railing with both hands I can pull myself up the stairs with relative ease. Which makes me thing, "Can I ever go back to work at the hotel?"should my caregiving days end? I'm thinking no, maybe not.
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"Angel's Landing", where I used to stay when I visited Provincetown in the 70's. Right downtown on Commercial Street, where all the action was. I rented a bike and got everywhere including Herring Cove outside downtown Provincetown |
Recently I've been giving a lot of thought to visiting Provincetown just one more time before I cross over the Rainbow Bridge. Oh how I would love that! To visit my old haunts on Commercial Street, the main drag (no pun intended) in Provincetown.
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| Real outdoor cafe dining in Provincetown, probably about 1990, my last visit to Provincetown |
One of my blogger buddies visits Provincetown several times a year. He suggested that maybe we can all get together for another Bloggerpalooza. What a wonderful idea! Our last Bloggerpalooza was here in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware nine years ago in 2014. Man oh man, where does the time go?
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| Me in Provincetown Harbor, Labor Day 1979 |
Of course we could only do this Bloggerpalooza if Spo and Someone attend and (hopefully) Fearsome Beard. Also anyone else who wants to meet in person me and my blogger friends.
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| Commercial Street, Provincetown, Mass - yes, traffic share the main drag with the tourists. Took some getting used to but once you realized that you're on vacation and everybody is relaxed, it works! Lots of straight people during the day ("Day Trippers") - no judgements! |
Of course Pat will be with me. He's never been to Provincetown and doesn't seem to enthused about it but I and confident one he sets foot on Commercial Street, he will experience the total feeling of freedom that Provincetown offers members of the gay community.
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| Me (practically naked on the right) with two of my friends Gino and Bob, both of whom since deceased . |
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| Me (right) out for a sail boat ride with my boyfriend Brad (since passed away) in Provincetown Harbor 1980 |
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| Brad and I imbibing in a glass of white wine on a very windy day in Provincetown Harbor 1980 |
Followers of this blog know that Pat and I fell in love with Palm Springs, California which also has a large gay population (mostly older well to do men) but Provincetown is different. At least it was when I last visited in 1990. All walks of the social economic gay community. Not just the older, affluent gay men that is Palm Springs. Plus, Provincetown is just fun.
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| Me with color coordinated socks and T-shirt on a pier in Provincetown Harbor 1976 |
Just one more time to attend the daily Tea Dance (4 PM) at the Boatslip on Commercial Street and dance to "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.
That is my wish.
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| Me relaxing at Angel's Landing. Provincetown is the one place in my life hat I felt totally relaxed and FREE! Palm Springs comes a close second only because the gay presence in Palm Springs is almost exclusively older well off gay men who tend to be very cliquish. In Provincetown I met all types of men from across the country. Everybody was relaxed. No cliques! |