Recently there was some rather abrupt relocating in my world, as I changed my residence from the Suspension Capitol of the World to the Bondage Capitol of the World. I’ve heard some interesting rumors about my reasons for the move as well as some of the other aspects of it, and I thought I’d address those, briefly.
- I didn’t hop a plane, I did it in a car, driving across the country for the third time this year, singing along to Moulin Rouge and drinking coffee and munching trail mix as I steered the car with my knees as my native American ancestors did.
- I didn’t leave because I disliked Seattle – I loved Seattle, both weeks that I actually saw it. No, seriously, I didn’t give Seattle enough of a chance, not even close, as I traveled probably half the year and was only in town for the longest stretch of (I believe) five weeks in a row. Seattle, both as a city and a community, fucking ROCKS!!
- “So why’d you leave, Gray?” One word: family. My kids, my grandkids, and then my parents all were going through some really tough times over the past couple of months, and it was frustrating not being able to help. Yet I was still going to only offer what help I could from a distance, to stay in Seattle, until my middle daughter wrote me a very frank letter where she asked me for help – in-person, come-back help. As this is a tough chick who has never asked me for help directly before, this was the straw that tipped the barrel of fishmonkeys, and I arranged to come back.
- I owe huge thanks to my “homies” in Seattle’s Ho-Nest for making it so easy for me to leave (Hmmm…now that I think about it, that’s not as flattering as I…never mind). Also for my friends here in Madison making it so easy to come back – in fact, they held a Cigars, Boots, & Chocolate here the night I arrived! They say it was coincidental, but that’s just Midwestern modesty. I know it was for me.
- How long will I be here? Well, for a while, that’s for sure. I have to cut down on my traveling and presenting – the last two years have almost killed me, and there are personal issues of health both physical and mental that need attending. Plus I have, at a minimum, two grandsons here that I’d like to get to know better. The older one, my namesake, is going to be good for me, as is evident from the conversation we had in the car today:
Me: Come on, I’m sure I’m allowed to take a nap.
Grandson #1: No, you can’t. The sun is up! Nobody sleeps when the sun is up!
Me: Oh, I’m sure somebody is sleeping now.
Grandson #1: Well, forget about sleeping, because you’re not somebody, Grandpa.So I’m gonna enjoy not being somebody. And if you miss me…I’ve got about three Ropecast interviews just waiting to be edited and published soon, so expect “Live from the Bondage Capitol of the World, Madison, WI!” to be coming your way soon!
Welcome back, my friend. I look forward to kid hanging out time.
I’m glad you’re taking some time to reconnect with family, and for SELF-CARE! I don’t know how you kept going.