I was born “pretty” By Jimmy Belasco

Description

I was born “pretty” by Jimmy Belasco

Some people were born smart. I was born “pretty.”There I was, Forrest-Gumping it across America-no Nikes, just me and my car. Six months, coast to coast, with a grin that said, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m fully committed.” Some thought I should’ve been.Why the sudden escape? I was down to my last marble. After two years as a full-time caregiver for my parents during COVID-Dad being his ever-appreciative but Commander-in-Chief self, and Mom having just lost her battle with cancer-I needed out of that house. It was the road or a straitjacket.Growing up gay with a minister dad, I spent a lifetime running from myself. But this time, I wasn’t running-I was searching for something, maybe a marble or two. Instead, I found pearls.On the road, I started talking to my mom. Yes, the dear, dead one. And to my shock, she answered-with nuggets of wisdom I’d ignored for decades. Those pearls led me to the things that make my life worth loving.It took over fifty years-and my dear, dead mom-to figure it out.I’m so damn “pretty,” I can’t stand it.