Kids Do The Darnedest Things
This is from a conversation I overheard while in line at lunch on Friday.
....we all used to go to this bar close to campus when I was in college. Anyway, we would each put a credit card into this fishbowl. Then, one of the credit cards would be drawn from the fishbowl. Whoever was lucky enough to be selected would pay for all the drinks for that night. So, all the drinks for everyone in the bar would be tallied for the night, and the card would be charged for that amount. The card would be charged discretely with the name of the campus bookstore. That way, when the parents got the bill, they would just think that you had to buy books. It’s kind of underhanded I guess.
You think?
I was wondering at the time if he was exaggerating when he said that the drinks for everyone in the bar would be tallied, or just for those in his group. He wasn’t clear on that point. He made it sound like it was for all the patrons of the bar for the evening from the point the card was selected.
At any rate, it’s a hell of a way to treat people who are putting you through college. It left me wondering if this was a common behavior.
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From Matthew:
"PS: I thought you were going to come and see us this summer. We would love to see you and Kent."
Matthew, you are right! We haven't forgotten. This summer has been a crazy one for us (more than usual). The truth is, I'm just a little intimidated over Jeff's physique now. Can't compete with that! :-)
I'll call you guys in the next day or so.
Fritz, it kind of knocks the hell out of the "stability" argument the straight folks use against gay families about our families lacking stability, doesn't it?
Well, my twin brother recently had to take his 17-year-old daughter and her 18-year-old fiance to Las Vegas so they could get married. His crazy ex-wife had called the police on the fiance and filed a complaint of statutory rape. (The authorities would never prosecute such a case, but they still had to investigate -- effectively harrassing my niece and her fiance.)
Then, the crazy ex-wife tossed my younger niece (16-years-old) out of the house because she thinks she knew about the wedding and kept quiet about it. She threw away all of the girl's new school clothes and her books and locked her out of the house. Nice, huh?
Now, my brother has all of his kids -- including a new son-in-law -- living with him in a two-bedroom apartment. Meanwhile, his ex is living in the five-bedroom house I grew up in (she got it in the divorce) with her second husband and their child.
Yeah, those straight folks have "family values" all right.
At least my nieces and nephew know that they'll always have their dad and their gay uncle to depend on.
Bill,
Jeff's son Tim does realize we are truly his family. He is grasping at his relationship with his mom right now, which was close until she remarried. As he puts it, the guy changed overnight.
It makes me wonder if the new step-father was thinking he would be the father figure once married. If so, Tim would have none of it. He has a father and he's proud of him and loves him unconditionally.
When Jeff and I met 12 years ago, Jeff had two young children from his marriage. They would spend the summer with us. They loved being with us.
Sadly, Jeff's daughter is now estranged from us since her mother remarried. However, Tim has no problem telling anyone that his dad is gay. Tim's logic: if they don't like it, then they're not really my friend. How wonderful the simple logic of a son.
So while some college kids are scamming their parents, there are still those who honor the sacrefices and efforts their parents make. I'm just proud to be in the company of one of those kids.
PS: I thought you were going to come and see us this summer. We would love to see you and Kent.
Matthew,
Perhaps this also opens up an opportunity. I'm not sure what your (both of you) relationship is with the boy, but I hope that the boy realizes and really thinks about this.
You are both there for him. You are his true family. My hope is that he will never forget that!
It would certainly be one hell of a way to treat those who are putting you through college. We should know.
Jeff and I are now supporting his son while attending college. It's interesting: his custodial mother and new step-father refuse to help him in any way. In fact, they've told him, he no longer lives in their home. He's a guest when he is there.
Nice thing to say to a 20 year old kid. Damn, it's funny what "good christian people" tell their kids.