Belated Posting

I wrote the following when I was in Germany, but had no Internet access. I'm finally getting around to posting it...

As I write from Trier, Germany it is 8:30 on Wednesday evening, 28 June. I don’t have web access, but I’m going to try to “catch up” on the past number of days so that I can post this as soon as I return.

Last Friday, 23 June, I flew to Cleveland, Ohio to attend the Saturday wedding of one of my closest friends, S. It was the sixth anniversary of my commitment ceremony in which S was a key participant. Let me tell you, it was really odd to be in a Catholic church in Ohio attending a heterosexual wedding, and on my anniversary no less. Don’t get me wrong - I’m thrilled for S. But it’s really depressing to listen to the priest go on about this couple that has been brought together, blah, blah, blah and realize that they’ve known each other almost exactly two years, dated 18 months. It’s depressing because I think of all the couples, myself included, who have been together for many more years than that and whom this institution and this state – and likely many of those in attendance – have worked so hard to oppress. I was genuinely thrilled for her and she was truly radiant - but, geez, it was also really depressing.

I couldn’t stay for the reception as I had to catch an early flight – in hindsight, probably a good thing as additional celebration and affirmation of heterosexuality was probably more than I could stomach. I had to fly back to Minneapolis and get on another flight to Frankfurt via Amsterdam.

As I was waiting for my (delayed) flight in Cleveland, I saw a fellow also waiting to board and thought, “That looks like Dennis Kucinich.” The guy next to me, with whom I’d been chatting, said, “There goes Dennis Kucinich.” I said, “I thought that was him. Our precinct actually went for him in the caucuses.” To which he replied, “I bet he’d appreciate knowing that.” So, I went over, introduced myself, told him about the caucuses, and had a nice chat. He was on his way to Vancouver to present his plan for a Department of Peace at the World Peace Forum. Pretty cool. And, btw, he’s much nicer looking in person than press photos every suggested.

If you’re interested in hearing more about my travels in Germany, click on the "Traveling..." link on the right.