'Bred Crumbs

Pride Sandwich

For Pride last weekend, I was going to write something about an epiphany I had a few days earlier regarding being gay vs. being "queer," acceptance vs. uniqueness, celebration vs. activism, and the lingering dangers of the paranoid, rabid-when-cornered far right vs. the new threats of the insolent, determined-to-be-unhappy fringe left. But I never really found the oomph to finish it.

So then I figured I'd tie it all into a Fourth of July essay about reminding myself of the plentiful good that remains in America despite recent events, actions, and attitudes – of finding a way to again feel as much pride on the Fourth as I do at Pride, and how altogether appropriate it is that the two holidays fall so close together, especially this year. But I couldn't work up any more interest in writing that than you would have in reading it.

Instead, I'll just tell you what I did to celebrate this Fourth: for the first time in my life, I made chicken salad, an all-American dish. But I took the liberty, if you will, of altering the ingredients, thus asserting the individuality and freedom this country is supposed to be all about.

I'd share the recipe, but it's not quite where I want it yet. Maybe next Fourth of July.

Or, if I can find some way to make it gay, next Pride.

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