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 being unable 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 business as competition.

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.

We
had expanded along the Western Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas 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.)

I
was running a real hectic schedule--holding many sessions in all the
locations in and around Memphis, 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 Bernie and I had been lovers as they now knew Johnny and I were lovers.

In both cases we went to their homes, they came to ours, we went out for
dinner many times together, 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, Alice,
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---30+ 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? I think so but I still haven’t figured it out!