I told my grandkids about one of my sister's h.s. friends

[Marthe48]

I talked about how much fun he was, how nice he always was to me, and mentioned he was the first gay person I had ever met. I also mentioned that he passed away several years ago. Everyone in his family died young. One of my grandkids asked me why he died. I don't remember. We kept in touch, but he didn't tell me about his health. I think it was his heart. I feel like he and my sister brought out the best in each other, and I have such good memories of his presence in our lives. They went to the proms together and cleared the floor with their dancing, 3 years in a row

[elleng]

1. cleared the floor with their dancing, 3 years in a row

[Marthe48]

2. I didn't ever get to see them dance, but I saw one photograph

and it looked just like a scene from the movies, all the other kids in a circle, watching the two of them in the center of the floor.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Thank you for sharing that.

[czarjak]

4. My high school years experienced three suicides of known or suspected gays from 69-71...

Different times, but it was unsettling then as the anti movement is now.

[Marthe48]

5. I'm sorry to hear that

Her friend, my friend, graduated in '66, and my sister graduated in '68. My grandkids were in their school program yesterday, and while I was driving them home after school, my granddaughter said she'd have to be in her costume, for her part, change to sign in her chorus group, and change back, and she wouldn't have much time. I got to be in a h.s. play, and I think being behind the scenes is exciting and fun. Her description reminded me of when my sister and her friend got in work in musicals in a dinner theater in Cleveland, both after they graduated h.s. Her friend played the piano, and my sister got a chorus singing part. My sister had a day job, but really loved acting and singing. At least once, her friend picked her up from work, and she had to be ready the minute they got to the theater, so she had to change into her costume in the car, as he drove them to the theater. The two of them didn't care, but my sister said other drivers probably got an eyeful, and my mom told her not to change in the car. lol Anyway, telling my grandkids that story led to me tell the rest.