Our annual fourth of July party is coming up. It is also the day Wally and I wed some five years ago when we had our open window of equality. But now, within those short years, the number of friends has dwindled dramatically. Most moved to other areas in their retirements, others have died and still others had made plans that day.
It's a strange feeling to pick up the phone and have just a few friends to call. There use to be so many more but that was a long time ago.
Still, there is life here in Gaza. The gardens of Queer Gaza are beautiful and abundant. A summer feel has taken hold of the land. That lazy-day touch in the weather with warm summer nights filled with the buzz of life all around. Pleasant too and with a cool summer drink made of 100 proof Southern Comfort poured over a glass of fresh mint leaves crushed on the bottom, with ice packed on top, and then fresh brewed sweet tea added, makes for a mighty fine lazy-day thirst quencher. Actually less quench and more punch but after a glass or two of the brew, who gives a shit if it's hotter than a firecracker outside.
Our vegetable garden has produced a bumper crop of pickling cucumbers. I have an entire cabinet now filled with assorted pickles. Dill, Bread & Butter, pickled peppers, pickled garlic and today, pickled shrimp. All but the shrimp grown right here on the estates of Queer Gaza. And the other day, Sunday, I had one of the most gastronomical events ever to occur here. The baseball game was on, followed by the Tour de France. A platter of crackers, braunschweiger, a good cheddar alongside homemade dill pickles to slice and place on top with ice cold beer to wash it down with. Heaven to eat each morsel of crisp cracker with a spread of creamy liver tastes with the sharp cut of a dill pickle makes my mouth water even now. And to kick back with a game and stuff yourself gives you a wee bit of paradise.
So yes, there is life in Gaza, still to this day.
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