BEING CONTINUED: The Walk - 2834 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

Casimiro unpacked his bags with a sense of hurry and determination. It was a beautiful day and he wanted to get outside as quickly as possible. This was his first trip to Provincetown since the mid 1970s and he was excited to see the people visiting and the changes that had been made to the town. His first trip had been to visit distant, Portuguese family members who had migrated there decades before to work in the fishing and restaurant industries. He would spend the summer loading and unloading crates from ship to dock. He was a young man then, strong and eager to see the world beyond his own small fishing village. At first sight, he was disheartened to see that he had traded one very small town for another. He feared his summer would be nothing more than the same work in a new place. After spending the night full of regret and doubt, he set off to work his first day on the docks. The work was easy for him and nothing particularly new. What changed his attitude was what he saw that afternoon on the walk back to his small, dark room. This coastal town had become a mecca for artists, artisans and gay men. Music was all around and the spirit of free love was everywhere. There was a sense of constant celebration in the air, even if people were celebrating make-believe events. He saw his first couple of men holding hands in the street and stopped and stared with wide-eyed amazement. He felt as though his heart may escape from his chest. It was something he had dreamed of, but never dared to think would become real. It was something he knew inside that he wanted for himself. He spent his summer working hard in the morning and meeting people from all over the world at night. He met a particular young man from New York who taught him how to water color and dance. They spent hours working puzzles quietly by the pool, taking moments to look in to each other's eyes. It was his most beautiful summer and one he never forgot. Now, thirty-nine years later, he finally returns. Life, work, finances and love had prevented him from coming back earlier. Now retired with his lover, friends and family buried, it was where he had decided to take his loneliness. With most of his savings, he rented a bright, open room in a boarding house for the summer and he was throwing his clothes into drawers so he could explore the town again. After rushing outside, one of the first things he saw was a couple of young men holding hands. "How romantic," he told them as they passed by. They gave him then each other a puzzled look. All they were doing was walking down the street together. But to Casimiro, they were proof. They were proof that something here still existed. Even if it wasn't for him anymore, it was there to see. Love existed in the open air and their simple gesture of affection gave his heart the bursting feeling that he had missed for so long.

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985