It’s amazing what I saw while in beautiful New Hope a couple weekends ago minus the one day that it rained like there was no tomorrow. My other half and I, I was going to say better half, but why would I say that since we are both two very good halves making us whole. Now that’s one for those people who have had the right to marry for many years to borrow. Now where was I? Oh yes, the rain in New Hope on that Sunday was vicious bringing thunder and lightning at times. My partner and I were able to drive over the Delaware River Bridge from New Hope, PA into Lambertville, NJ in a matter of seconds – I loved that!  Lambertville, NJ sports a quaint little village not unlike New Hope with its many restaurants, art galleries and antique shops. Of course we only got to see them from our car because the rain was still coming down. We decided to cross the Delaware River Bridge back into New Hope. Low and behold the rain let up and the sun began to shine bringing some fierce humidity! We parked the car and strolled around downtown New Hope as we have done so many times before. It’s such a beautiful place, fun and relaxing at the same time and steeped in history. I read that it grew into a huge popular gay resort in the 1950’s. Which I absolutely love. Any place that welcomes gay’s with open arms is a place I want to be. Now I tell you that I tend to notice every thing that goes on in the world around me especially when I am away on vacation. It’s the way this writers mind works. I don’t always talk about it but I write about it and most times it winds up in my private journal.  This time I had to share because it gave me hope and at the same time maybe a little bit of sadness. I noticed that New Hope had more to offer in the way of antiques but this particular antique you don’t buy while in these shops you might however find them shopping  for antiques though. I saw old Gay men!

  That’s right real honest to goodness old gay men and I don’t mean 40’s and 50’s old gay men (You vain Queens) I mean 7o’s, 80’s and dare I say 90’s!  These older men were shopping in New Hope, hanging around the local bar/club Raven. Whether sitting around the pool area at Club Raven or singing songs at the piano bar, they were out living. Which happily showed me that AIDS is not so alive and well and poisoning the gay community like it did in the 80’s and 90’s! I know that HIV is still very prevalent in the gay community. I also know now that a lot of us managed to live through the epidemic. 

 It was really good to see these older gay men living out loud and very proud. It gives me hope! It let’s me know that when I get on in years that there will be others like myself to socialize with. To speak of good old times and continue to frolic and play! We have come so far so fast because when I was a small young closeted gay boy growing up in the south, I never saw an older/senior gay man! I barely ever saw one who was an adult and out of the closet. I assumed a lot of course but never really knew for sure! Today I know for sure and again it makes me happy. I just want this phenomenon to continue! I want us to live longer, to be old and wiser and to continue to love and cherish the idea  of  being able to live long fruitful lives!

 My concern living  in NYC and frequenting more gay clubs and venues than I can count or would even want to mention. Yet I have not seen a wonderful flock of aging gay men here like I did in New Hope. I need to know the reason for this it concerns me because I live here!  I have a need to know because thankfully I will be going down that path of aging soon not that I am rushing it though! I also want to know that we are keeping the flame of life still burning by acting responsibly and respecting one another by continuously using condoms so that we can be around for many long years to come.

James Pearson