Feb 2024

Pink Point Diary #2

Believe in Love

Random rainbows might appear in the sky, but fabric ones don’t hang themselves! It usually takes this middle-aged homo 45 minutes to raise all LGBTQ+ flags at Pink Point. Background music is essential for this task, and today I chose Carly Simon.

Loudly singing “YOU’RE SO VAIN!” when hanging flags and bags can make a spectacle. But I say we only have one performance on the stage of life, and it should be Oscar worthy! Carly’s songs take me back to childhood car rides with my Mom. Her Chevy Cutlass Supreme was a mobile stage where we sang all of our problems away. I hadn’t experienced the love and loss Carly was singing about, but Mom had, I could hear it in her voice.

Carly was singing “These are the good old days” when a man came in. Working class and Dutch, he had a kind smile and a twinkle in his eye. I recognized him, but couldn’t place him. He struggled to make the step inside the kiosk. Something was wrong.

He apologized for his awkwardness and said he had recently suffered a head injury. “ I’m so sorry to hear that, no need to apologize.” He thanked me, and told me he was bisexual and wanted to find a trinket with the bi flag on it.

While we looked around, he mentioned he’d had a girlfriend. “Oh, I remember you now. You guys were here together last time?” He nodded, then said she’d left him, because he was bi.

As he spoke, his eyes became red and his voice quivered. It was too much. The weight of life had fallen heavy on his shoulders and needed lifting. If there was ever a time for a hug, this was it. He was a brother in need.

He relaxed into my embrace and surrendered healing tears. As I held him close, another customer walked in and was watching us, but I continued to hold him.

“There’s more room in a broken heart.” Carly serenaded in the background.

And I believe in love,

What else can I do?”

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