I took these photos a couple of years ago at Arlington.
Both are from Section 60 were the recently fallen heroes are buried.
This family came to celebrate a husband/father/brother's birthday.
They brought flowers, balloons and a cake. And a box of tissue.
This couple told me that they come and sit with their son once a month.
They spend the afternoon reminiscing while having a picnicking.
***
Both scenes moved me unbelievably. And to tears.
I was 8 when Harvey Milk was gunned down by an assholes bullet.
I was a little too young to know anything about Milk - or politics in general.
I just coming to understand and accept my confusing sexual orientation.
Compared to some friends I came to acceptance younger than most.
For a brief spell I thought I was the only one like me in the world.
Until Anita Bryant came along with her anti-gay crusade.
I suppose I should thank her for...
Letting me know that there were more just like me out there in the world.
I knew in time that I would find them. And I did. Lots and lots of them.
But that was a long way off. So a closet became my safe place.
I knew Anita was talking about me. And I didn't like it.
I was a good kid. Eff her. I'd like to throw a pie in her face.
This photo of my mother was taken sometime around 1960.
She's standing on a beach in the south of Italy.
My mother was quite the stunner.
I love you mom.
Happy Mother's Day.
I live at the end of the 105 Metro line. Lately I've been riding.
A couple of weeks ago I boarded and encountered a white bearded driver.
I thought to myself: I wonder if he realizes he's driving a bus & not a sleigh?
I sure do enjoy my simple amusements.
The next day I rode with him again - this time a rider exited saying,
"See you tomorrow, Santa."
Huh? People actually call this guy Santa?
Maybe even more troubling was the jolly in his response, "Until then."
I found myself on his bus again a few days later and heard the following:
Rider: Hey, Santa. Are you working much this season?
Driver: Oh yes. This is my busy time of year.
Rider: Do you make a lot of money being Santa?
Driver: Yes. I can make about a third of my Metro salary in December alone.
Rider: Are you kidding me?
Driver: The pinnacle of the Santa career is the Macy's Parade, of course.
Rider: Really?
Driver: Yea, the Macy's Santa makes bank.
Rider: I had no idea.
Driver: Everybody in the Santa community dreams of getting that call!
Rider: Do you know this years Macy's Santa?
Driver: Nah, I'm pretty sure he's an east coast Santa.
It's at this point that I reached my destination.
***
A few nights later I ran into my tranny friend Ricky dressed as Santa.
Or rather, undressed as Santa.
And I wondered if Santa Ricky would be accepted in the Santa community.
You decide.
You can get a full-on view but I'm warning you - it's not for the faint hearted:
From the Veteran's Day tribute this morning in West Hollywood.
I feel honored to have captured this photo. Veteran's rock.
Yesterday I went to the Blessing of the Animals on Olvera Street.
It's an annual Latin American Easter festival.
It was a day filled with animals of all sorts & heart-melty kids performances.
Please click HERE to view my photo spread.
Yesterday I stumbled upon a Passion of Christ reenactment.
And boy did I get my camera up in it!
You can check out my photo of the event HERE.
I went to watch them set-up yesterday. And it was pretty damn cool.
I would have been positively loopy had I done this as a teen...
When the Academy Awards were basically my Christmas.
That's right boys - roll out that red carpet. I'm heeeere.
I have no idea who this golden lady is...
An entertainment reporter for Mexican TV perhaps?
One simply must admire her commitment to sparkle at 10AM.
Ah yes, the ol' Academy Awards halo.
Fitting I suppose. After all, Oscar is the G-d of Hollywood.
Oh look, that's Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart.
Q: How do we know that Mary Hart is a big Hollywood star?
A: Because the sidewalk says so!
DO NOT OPEN UNTIL SUNDAY:
I was 11 when Annie Hall won Best Picture in 1977.
I was completely gutted that Star Wars didn't win.
Seriously, gutted. Wrecked. How could they get it so wrong?
My life was a total disaster for like a month! Maybe more.
As a kid I just didn't get it. But as an adult I do. Annie Hall effin' rules!
Hey now wait a dog gone minute...
I thought we were being fed this Al Jazeera 'hates the Western World' line?
How then do they get better a seat than the BBC?
Hey Bugs, is that an Oscar in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Had to.
All photos taken by Chuck Keenum on February 24 & 25, 2011.
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