Monday, January 2, 2012

Best Story Ever

Or I thought so anyway. New Year's Eve Eve, HWMNBMOTI were invited to a little neighborhood party.

HWMNBMOTI knows more neighbors than I do... he walks the dog and meets people, and frankly has a bit of a Mrs. Kratitz personality—always likes to know what's going on, which requires knowing who everybody is. So he's been telling me about this man he's made friends with who is a nurse--(HWMNBMOTI has nursing goals and finding other males is a bit of a rarity).

So finally at this party I met this man... and he told me this story...

“You know, when I first met [HWMNBMOTI] I was working in my garage. I'm a gregarious guy and we were new to the neighborhood, so I called 'hello'. He and the dog came up to talk and started talking about what we did. And he told me his partner studied pain.

“So you see... I made an assumption... partner... and... well the dog is named Joel...”

[I started laughing here]

“But that's okay. I have brother who's gay who's been with his partner for a number of years. I wasn't bothered. So we kept talking when we'd run into each other. Then one day, several month later, he says something about his wife, Tami, and... well in the same conversation, he tells me how the two of you moved from Portland. I couldn't wait to get inside to tell my wife.

“[HWMNBMOTI] isn't gay! He's from Portland!”


We went on to a delighted conversation about the enlightened people of Portland who might appear gay to midwesterners... If you don't know Portland, you might not understand this story at all, but it sure amused me a lot.


I am back to the day job tomorrow... on to the resolutions... beginning a round of editing for the Amazon contest (more later this week on that). I have had a WONDERFUL long break though. I finished Chrysanthemum Campaign and RELAXED a lot. I am not eager to get back to it, but at the same time, I really love fresh starts, and since I am not a student, the new year is about as close as I get to that...

I wish you all the very best in 2012!

23 comments:

Laura said...

teeheehee :)
Happy 2012 Hart - enjoy your start
Lx

Rebecca Bradley said...

I love people who talk to strangers. We tend to live in a world where everyone just gets on with their own business and doesn't particularly see another person. Many people could walk past a stranger in the street and then not be able to describe them, so I loved this story, even if I'm not from Portland. :)

I'm also back to work tomorrow. The festivities have gone, the tree is down and getting through to the end of winter seems an age away.

Have a great day tomorrow Hart and I hope the editing goes well.

Old Kitty said...

It's a most fabulous compliment to be thought of as gay! Means hubby is stylish, chic and ever so sophisticated! :-)

Now why would he say you like to study pain?!?! LOL!

Yay for most NAKED neighbours!

Take care
x

Jan Morrison said...

ah yes, the problem with what to call one's pelvic affiliate. I'm not 'officially' married to my sweet patootie but we do have two mortgages so... when we go to his ancestral home in Labrador I beg him to refer to me as his wife just because he is related to everyone there but his cousin Joyce. I have two female partners in a business and that has led to problems over the years. Also, sometimes his children's mother and I go in to see teachers together at my step-dot's school and they always think we're a gay couple. It makes us laugh and we don't correct them...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That is really funny! I get the Portland connection as well.

Tonja said...

I met a bunch of people from Portland during a week long business trip. They seemed just like me...now I'm not sure what that means.

Colene Murphy said...

Ha! That's so funny. I also have a question about studying pain? lol.

lisahgolden said...

Very funny! Have you seen Portlandia? Several friends from there have mentioned to me that I have to watch it. They also tell me I'd fit in there so....

Happy 2012! Looking forward to a another year of great posts from you!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

LOL! Oh my God that is funny. I'm from Salem so I'm well aware of Portland's reputation.

Here's a funny story for you. The first time I met my husband's parents was over dinner. I guess because my husband is an artists his father had concerns. Halfway through dinner, his father looks at me and then my husband and loudly proclaims, "Well, thank God you're not gay!" I about choked on my food, I was laughing so hard.

Johanna Garth said...

LOL! You know I LOVE that story!

Unknown said...

Happy 2012! Loved the story. :D

Abby Minard said...

That was a cute story ;p Its funny when you say "partner" what people assume. I admit sometimes I'll automatically think the same thing when someone says that. I need to get to know my neighbors more...good luck with 2012!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I'd love to live in Portland. Maybe I should move there.

Nancy said...

anytime somebody says "partner" that is what I always think. Ha! Happy New Year!

Hart Johnson said...

teehee--thanks, everyone, for stopping in! Portland IS indeed wonderful. I miss it. The show Portlandia is hysterical--I've only seen 2 or 3 episodes, but they cracked me up.

Partner is a PRIVACY word to me. It's nobody's business what my marital status is or the sex of my partner, but sometimes you refer to them... And I think I've rubbed off on HWMNBMOTI... But I suppose it is a Northwest thing to be bothered less by an assumption of homosexuality than telling someone whether or not you're married... teehee.

Michael and Lisa--for BOTH of you, Portland is definitely more fitting than where you live now.

CA Heaven said...

I've never been to Portland (or anywhere in Oregon), but now I want to go there >:)

Cold As Heaven

LTM said...

OK, so my first response was, "What, they don't let gay guys in Portland? Oye." ;p

but I have to confess, I *snort*snort*snort*-ed at "The dog's named Joel..." good stuff. ;p

You have a fantastic new year also! ((hugs))

Sarah Ahiers said...

Hah! That story was great!
And we are going to rock 2012!!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Happy New Year! Loved the story...sounds like the kind of misconceptions and misunderstandings that could go in a mystery!

KM Nalle said...

It sounds like you have a delightful neighborhood.

Happy 2012.

Southpaw said...

That is a great story. It would have cracked me up too!

Anne Gallagher said...

Love the Portland story. Happy New Year to you.

vic caswell said...

heeheehee! i've been to portland and i live in the midwest, and this story is FANTASTIC! happy new year sweetie pie!