Birthday ramble

I am a quarter of a century old. Yesterday I pulled out a lone nose hair poking out my left nostril. My newest preoccupation is my 8-month belly - an inheritance from my otherwise skinny dad, and beer I suppose. His hair only started running away in his 50s - no silver yet.  My mom still has a full head of jet-black hair, dread-locked into a crown. They are both hypertensive, but neither diabetic. My grandma would take insulin shots. Actually, I am not sure that they don't dye their hair. They are sneaky. Both of them wear glasses, and my younger sister does as well now. She is 21.

Are my nipples lower? What is this fold of skin when I bend to the side in the shower? I run now; twice a week. 3 miles, 30 minutes. I tried to cut carbs out last week - had salad for supper two nights in a row. Life seems too short to eat salad. I will switch from beer and to that turpentine-vodka they serve at No Parking. Right now I am having rice and beans because that is what is in my fridge.

My little sister is graduating from UCT today. I am extremely proud of her. I stayed at her apartment when I visited home. Judging by the contents of her fridge, she is more of a grown up than I will be for a while. Fridges dont lie.  She is also my friend. (When did that happen I wonder? Who knows.)

I guess it being christmas and all, I should reflect or whatever. I don't want to too much, I don't want to jinx things. I am on a winning streak that began on 1 Jan 2007 a little after midnight, after some heavy drinking, when I told my friend Iain that I am gay. He listened and bought me lots of chicken. Real friends buy you chicken (or Tofu or whatever) and they listen. And they hang around. Friends have helped me to gain sanity and to grow.

I am going to work tomorrow, in an organization that helps people all over the world to realize their human rights. Particularly, I'm working in the section that helps people who are gay or lesbian or transgendered.  People who may or may not be recognized as worthy of dignity by their own family members. Some who may not be deemed worthy of their own lives.

I have met some people, this year, who work "on the ground" in spaces like that. They do amazing things. Despite. Gay people always seem to do amazing things, Despite.

Anyways, I am excited to go to work tomorrow, and about the next quarter-century. Maybe over the next two months, I will do one thing that will make one person's life a little easier in a small way. Who knows? It is exciting.

Yours,
Tata Keletso