I very seldom save any blogs except on
the site I post them--this seems to be an explanation of  how people
have always and will always puzzle me.

 
(Having a tendency to ramble I will try to make this very long story shorter:O))

Some background: My lover/partner and I
moved to Memphis to start a new business--within 2 years it grew much
faster than we had even anticipated and acquired a big staff--many part-timers
and about 4-5 full timers--Susan (an alias) was our secretary--5 years
after the business opened my lover/partner and I went through a very
messy, legal parting of the ways (Our relationship 'divorce' was just as
messy--this was in 1975 and the Lee Marvin case hadn't hit the courts
or I would have gone that route.)
In any case, loving Memphis (and not being able to get a job as a waiter
because I was neither black or a woman--remember the times I am talking
about) I decided to open my own--a competiting--business.
As things happen in relationships, and business, people took sides--3 of the (full-time) ladies, and many part-timers, decided to come with me. I had had a tremendous following in the former business (as the employees who left with me did) and we took off like a rocket. Susan came as my secretary and office manager.
Soon we had expanded along the Western Tennesse, Eastern Arknsas and
North Mississippi States. I decided to open in Chattanooga where I had
held sessions for the previous 3 years.
(I have to add here that for their loyalty I gave the 3 women partnerships in the business--BIG BUSINESS--THOUGH NOT A PERSONAL-- MISTAKE.)
Soon I was running a real hectic schedule--holding many sessions in all
the locations besides going to Chattanooga on Sunday,holding sessions
there on Mondays and driving back on Tuesdays--doing radio, TV and
newspaper interviews, making commercials, etc. As in the previous
business I was the 'face' of the company. I knew something had to
give--along with all this I had a new lover and certainly had to give
him time.
Everyone in both companies had known that Al--another alias--had been
lovers as they now knew Gerry (you guessed it--another alias) and I were
lovers.
In both cases we went to their homes, they came to ours, we went out for dinner many times, celebrated special occasions, etc. so it was no secret that we were gay.
I decided that I would have to limit my trips to Chattanooga to once a
month and would have to have someone run the area for me--I spoke to
Alice who was more than agreeable (and capable.)
At our Friday partners meeting I told them what was happening--we had
discussed it before and they agreed with my plan. I announced about
Alice and told her she would be getting bonus's as the revenue went
higher.
Susan screamed, "WE CAN"T HAVE THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR US!!!" (Yes, she was/is a lesbian.)
After I picked my jaw up from the floor I looked at her in stunned amazement.
Here was a woman (Susan) who socialized with my previous lover and
current lover. Her son had taken the pictures at my 10th Leap Year
Birthday party (where I had rented the Hilton and had a jazz cocktail
party, followed by a prime rib dinner in the main hall--with a full
orchestra for dancing--and afterwards a dessert table with
entertainment--but that's another story!) and he was well paid. She
hadn't had a problem with gay guys but it seemed gay women really upset
her--still wonder why.
I must admit it was one of the very few times I was at a loss for words.
From that point on our relationship (and the business) went downhill.
I still---35 years later--haven't been able to understand her reaction.
Okay, she was a very devout christian but that didn't seem to be a
problem with the males. Was she a lesbian--afraid she was one--that
would be an easy excuse but I don't think so.
Unfortunately she had me looking askew at many straight friends and
asking myself, "Are they sincere in their friendship?" Fortunately that
phase didn't last too long.
Is there a moral to this story?