Gay Men Together: The Review
I sit here in front of my computer; and have processed the retreat from last week. I am always looking at little details that can be annoying at times, but as the Adult with ADD the moving things catch the eyes but our ears are increased in radar skills.
Week Before
I sit there in my car. Taking the overstuffed overnight bag from my friend Bob leaving the bright yellow flashlight with black trim and the red sleeping bag bought at Mardens still in the bag. I come into my room, bedroom, whatever you wish to call it. I flick on the light. There is a closet to the right, a queen size bed with a sandy colored comforter. The desk, nothing more then a cheap kitchen table and two chairs placed on opposite ends from the Ramada Hotel when they were getting rid of their old chairs, using one side for computer stuff and the other side for drawing.
I throw my green overnight bag, unzip it and open the closet. I am naturally bad for matching, which is why I try to buy clothing in one shade, I put three change of clothing per day, besides what the clothes I currently have on. Shorts, underwear, socks, short/long sleeve combo and corduroys. Then a few towels, toiletries, a sweater, a rain jacket and an extra hat stuffing in the sides I then grab my laptop and place a notebook and pen in the front pocket and go into the kitchen adjacent to my room.
I unplug the camcorder from charging and put it into the camera bag. I take a trash bag and roll my comforter up like a sleeping bag. Then I put them all in my car. It was hot on Thursday. I remembered trying to finish quickly because I thought the plastic trash bag with the comforter would burn up for some reason.
I pick up a coffee at Dunkin Donuts, large cream only, I start driving up north as I plug in the GPS. ‘When possible make a legal u turn’ a female voice said coming form the GPS box. I turned around and headed to Sabattus/Wales. GPS made me go in an odd loop as I approached where my Aunt Joanne lived in Sabattus next to the High School only to turn onto the road that I was already on. I continue driving noticing all the buildings around me and thinking they were interesting.
I notice the sign on the side of the road after ‘you have reached your destination’ blared from the GPS. I take a left onto a dirt road. There is a white house on the right side. I park there for a moment. Looking into the window for a light, “hmm; no one here” I go back into my car and light a cigarette starting the car. I back out and continue forward on the narrow dirt road, the green trees on the side make it enclosed. I continue going another mile or two till I pass a few open spots. On the right was a bunch of picnic tables in an octagon shape and on the right side was a fresh green-laid lot.
I pull into a parking lot full of vehicles, not really knowing where to park. I see an empty spot but a jeep is in front me. I park in back of the jeep and step out and look around. I get out of the car and head to a building with a rainbow flag blowing, thinking to myself, this must be it.
I walk on and see a man walking outside. “Do you know where I go to register?” I ask, noticing his nametag said Charlton. He stands tall, slender build, form fitting clothes smiled, “Yup follow me” he said and started walking toward the building in through the porch door. I followed like a puppy dog noticing the shiny metallic purple decorations sticking out of a box in the corner of the porch. I walked in through another door into a large room, and finally into another door. The fire place was to the right and a dozen of men or so were in the room.
“Joe will check you in and then I will show you around.” Charlton said. I looked at the desk and there was a man sitting, I assumed was Joe, later confirmed the name on his tag. “Whats your name hun?” he asked.
“Paul Cote.” He looked through his list and confirmed contact information as I slid eight twenty dollar bills to his side of the table.
“Is that your mazda parked out back of me?” a man said to the left.
“yes it is.”
“I need to go, can you move your car?” he asked.
I got my keys out of my pocket and followed him. Joe commented to Charlton to remember what I looked like and to look for me after I come back. I walk to my car and stick the keys in the ignition. I move the stick into reverse and go into another section of the parking lot, settling next to Bruce and Alan’s vehicle. I get out and go back to the lodge. Charlton motions me.
“Take one of the big brown bags, and the envelope with your name on it.” I do as he instructs.
“You know what cabin you’re going to?” Charlton states.
“No” I respond.
A shorter husky build man popped over. “Hey, I am Ken; I can show you the cabins.”
Ken goes out the front door with me following close behind. I notice his firm buttocks almost instantly and his demeanor. We walk to the left cabins. I notice pink pieces of paper attached to the cabins. “Reserved” printed on them. As we continue down to the end there is none without a pink piece of paper. “Looks like there is none here on this side, lets go to the other end.” He turns around and starts back to the lodge and continues past some pink flamingos.
Another pink sign on the first few cabins. “should I have reserved a cabin? I question Ken. “No, theres always room, some people just prefer to stay with certain people” he instructed me. Cabin #1 turns out to the lifeguards’ cabin. We venture on past a few more pink signs. I thought for a moment; is this a good sign having all these pink signs on cabin doors. It seems like people who might be new this year or doesn’t reserve get stuck pretty much with leftovers.
We walk to Cabin #2. “How about this one” Kens says standing in the cabin.
“Lets look some more” I tell him. We head into Cabin #3. Ethan, recognizes me and comes over to me hugging and getting all touchy-feely. “You should stay here” he tells me. I tell Ken I will stay in this cabin reluctantly. Ethan follows me to my car as I unload my bags. He takes the laptop bag and the sleeping bag and I take the other bags and head over. I am in the top bunk, Ethan on the bottom. A full cabin from the looks of the mattresses covered with sleeping bags and pillows.
I place the green overnight bag on the bed with my comforter. I unpack some of my toiletries and place them in the bathroom and above the fireplace. The woodstove is in front and unlit at the moment. Ethan’s computer is adjacent to his bed as he shows me his fleshlight and other misc items he brought. His computer is on and he is looking through his music.
Thursday Night
Snoring in the room as I lay there looking at the curtain.
Smoking Tent. [Jack, Joe, Charlton [talking about getting filled and his hair curl], Ron [brown university costumes bulging jeans], Bob [cigars], Dan [photos]
Friday
Pasta/Meatballs
Moved into Cabin #13 [Paul, Guido]
Opening Night with minister and his son
Opening Ceremony
Gay Jeopardy – Alan in the same group left handed.
Cards
Saturday
Workshops [Focus Group]
Kitchen Duty [Salad, Meat and Naked Waiters, Mike]
Carl and Ethan playing guitars together.
Talent Show
Sandwiches/Hot Dogs
Steak/Tofu
Sunday
Brunch
Walking back and Carl is playing his guitar.
Closing Ceremony
