a gentleman and a scholar
We need a better way to talk about trans children.
Christmas is the hardest time of the year for me. Not for the reasons why it’s so hard for so many trans people – their reasons first, and then mine.
This time of year brings it home – in mundane, everyday little ways – that trans people are so often people without families. Or, rather, without families of origin – by necessity, we’ve become adept at building our families of choice. A facebook status asking for a donation to help homeless trans teenagers, or a recommendation for a trans-friendly shelter for victims of domestic violence – overwhelming numbers of empathetic responses rooted in experience. Invitations to alternative festive events, on days when most people are expected to find themselves with parents, grandparents, the in-laws. Survival guide blog posts for those trying to face their family of origin – knowing that…
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Yesterday, I received some very disturbing news. Nine counties in West Virginia (mine included) will be without water for what was at first two weeks and now a month or so due to a chemical leak. This means, schools are closed, businesses that are dependent on water like restaurants and hotels are also closed. People can’t take baths or wash their clothes and last night there were about two or three fights in Kroger over water. They are giving out water at certain places but eventually there won’t be any water left to give out. My little sister’a friend had to go all the way to Procterville, Ohio to get some water. I think that West Virginia’s government needs to shut down the chemical plants anywhere near major sources of water because people live off of those water sources. And because they feared losing money, the chemical plants directors didn’t Make anyone aware of the leak until about three hours after it happened, meaning there are people who have already consumed it and don’t know what the side affects are of consuming aforementioned chemically altered water. I can only hope that they get the water situation fixed soon.
It’s the simple things that make us happy. Libraries make us happy. They are a great way to escape the harsh world for a little bit and enjoy the quiet company of kindred spirits.
The Road Less Traveled
Last year I posted a story about damaging my Kindle and how that experience reawakened my love for books.
Now, my Kindle is lost. I misplaced it, left it somewhere, put it away and forgot where, I don’t know. But it’s gone. This isn’t an easy truth to accept from someone who has a little over 1700 books in his Kindle library. I downloaded the app to my phone (which takes up a lot of space, by the way), but it’s just not the same.
After losing my Kindle, though, something strange happened. I don’t know how to explain it. When I had the Kindle, my time was mostly balanced between building up my Kindle library and actually reading a book on the Kindle. Once the Kindle was lost, though, it was back to other means of finding excellent books. And I chose some of the more old-school methods, too…
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“Such children you are to want to be treated like adults.” -Mrs. Edwards
My 10th grade English teacher told all the students in my class that quote in an attempt to make them realize that their actions weren’t a very good way to show their wants. Only, it didn’t work out well for her and she spent the rest of the period hearing all the students trying to twist her words and make it seem like she was calling them children (which, in retrospect they kind of are.) Later that week as I was sitting in class listening to the other students talking and being disrespectful to Mrs. Edwards that same quote flashed through my mind, and suddenly, I got it! Teenagers, in trying so hard to be seen as an adult, are only making it more obvious that they are still children mentally. It really opened my eyes and made me stop and actually think about what it takes to actually be an adult. So I think that I will enjoy being the teenager I am while it lasts.
Just whatever is going on in my mind.
The Out Crowd 