Travels With Penny, or, True Travel Tales of a Gay Guy and His Mom - Softcover

Morrison, David Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1481839683 ISBN 13: 9781481839686

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

Dad glared at me and muttered under his breath, “I think it’s great you two go someplace together. But if you’re going to spend money, go someplace I won’t take her, like Europe.” “Maybe next time.” He shook his head and yelled at the defensive linebacker on TV. “I’m worried.” “We’ll call you every day. How does that sound?” “I’m worried about New York. No telling what trouble you two will get into there.” “I do not get into trouble,” I protested. Then, as an afterthought, “Not anymore.” He grumbled and cracked open another peanut. “This is a bad idea.” “I want to do something special for my birthday, Dad. Go somewhere I’ve never been.” “Branson, Missouri, has some great concerts. I’ll go with you to Branson.” “I don’t want to travel some tourist trap, Dad,” I pleaded. “I want to do something memorable . . . fun . . . interesting.” “Dollywood’s interesting.” “Dad, why don’t you come with us?” He shook his head and flipped through the channels. He hated commercials. “I ain’t going to New York! Dirty, big, noisy, crazy people . . . they can keep it for all I care.” He looked at me and popped another peanut into his mouth. “Don’t take her to any of those shady, New York, low-life places, like gay bars.” “Relax, Dad,” I laughed. “A gay bar is probably the safest place for her to be.” He looked me dead in the eye and said, “She’s your responsibility. If anything happens to her, I’m blaming you.” “What’s the worst that could happen, Pop?” I asked as he turned back to the game. Note to self: Stop tempting fate. Thus begins David Alan Morrison’s hilarious memoir about the evolution of family dynamics. Following the sudden death of his father, a single, middle-aged gay guy struggles with his own mortality by reminiscing about the travels with his gregarious mother and, in doing so, discovers a new dimension to his relationship with himself, his parents and his regrets. Travels With Penny is an honest look at the transformation of the baffling, complex relationship between children and their parents.

About this title

From the Author:

"We can choose our friends.  We can't choose our family." It never ceases to amaze me how often society faces the same questions: outlaw gay marriage? Refuse to recognize sex reassignment? When do we disavow those "black sheep" family members?     The seed of this book began in 2007.  My family and I had run the gambit of family, strangers and back again.  Just when our relationship got steady, dad died.  That really pissed me off. My story isn't unique, but what is unique is the fashion in which Dad, Mom and myself dealt with this upheaval.     I hope it gives those of us in the GLBT community some hope. Families matter.    Thanks for stopping by.  

From the Back Cover:

Two things flashed through my mind when I opened the door to the sex shop to find my mother standing in front of the display case talking to a tall salesman wearing a leather harness, jock strap and a dog collar.  The first was, "Oh, crap!" The second was, "I hate it when Dad's right."
Watching my mother investigate the testicle torture devices, cock rings and nipple clamps was not even close to being on the weekend's itinerary.  It was so far removed from my itinerary, it was in a separate zip code.  This New York trip was supposed to be a celebration of my thirty-fifth birthday, it was supposed to be an opportunity for me to have one last grand hurrah before the fall semester kicked in and buried me under the pressure of literature reviews, critical analysis papers and thesis research.  I envisioned this weekend to be a fun filled romp around the Big Apple, not a safari through Leather Wonderland with my mother.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1481839683
• ISBN 13: 9781481839686
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168