Healing from the Past
Mike enjoys a blissful Sunday morning and expresses gratitude for a wonderful date last night that helped heal his recent traumas of surviving abuse and homelessness.
The conversation moves between reflections on bullying and political freedom — drawing comparisons between the cultural spirits of China, Taiwan, and Ukraine — and lighter moments including a surprise visit from his kindergarten teacher.
Good morning, everyone! Happy Sunday. It’s pretty much high noon here, but I still consider this Sunday morning. It is absolutely beautiful outside today.
You know, it’s not every day I give shoutouts to the Lord, but damn, the Lord was good to me last night. I needed some divine intervention for the heart, and sometimes it comes in the ways you least expect it. I’m still waking up, drinking my coffee, and honestly, I’m waking up from a marvelous night. I had a beautiful guy over for a date, and girl… if you only knew how much I needed that! It was more than just a hookup; it felt like a moment of profound healing.
I’ve had a lot of trauma over the last couple of years — being an abuse victim, being homeless in Portland — and it left a sour taste in my mouth. But last night felt like it healed something deep inside me. I know that sounds overdramatic or absurd, but whatever that "divine intervention” was, it was profound. I have to express some gratitude for that healing.
It’s such a gorgeous day — about 20 degrees, perfect weather. I’m just sitting here being a shirtless, trashy southerner, but why not? I’m in the South; I can get away with it. I’m just trying to get my brain started with some coffee and a morning bowl. I hope the god-fearing ones among you have already been to church by now\!
It’s funny, I see one of my old teachers, Mrs. Nera, is watching the stream. I don’t know what it’s like for an educator to see a student thirty years later, shirtless with a bong on a Sunday morning, but I hope it doesn't evoke horrible thoughts\! It’s 2022, and it’s still possible to have fabulous days. I was bracing for hurricanes and humidity here in Louisiana, but none of that has happened yet.
Sometimes I get depressed about the big picture, but I’m learning to find joy in the little, stupid things. Like Live Journal—remember that? I was waxing poetic about how those old blogs were probably scanned to predict how we’d vote in 2016. I used to give into all that vitriol back then. I really hated Hillary Clinton for no real reason, and looking back, it feels quite shameful.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about bullying and the "savior complex." Being a Queer guy, I always want to stand up for people who I feel are being silenced. It reminds me of the cultural differences I see, being half Taiwanese. To me, people from mainland China often sound "whipped" —l ike they’re hesitant because they feel they’re being watched. But Taiwanese people feel liberated; they speak their minds. It makes me proud. We Americans talk a lot about "freedom," but we don't know anything about it compared to someone in Ukraine defending their home from rockets. We think freedom is just cheap gasoline.
Anyway, I’m getting long-winded. I’m working on some Raspberry Pi projects—I’ve got two called HODA and GLADYS. It’s quiet today, and I’m just enjoying the irony of the future—my kindergarten teacher watching me live while I’m hungover. It’s a real "breaking the fourth curtain" moment.
I just got a copyright alert from Facebook because of the music I'm playing, so I’m going to sign off for now. You’ll see me again in the near future. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other.
