An Unconditional Friendship: Messages from a Colorful Granny and an Off-Color Gay Guy

Shortly after 9/11, the most unlikely of friendships was born. Whether it was serendipity, a divine setup, or was simply meant to be, no one will ever know. Charlene was in her seventies, had been married forever, and had a whole slew of kids and grandkids. Jim was a couple decades younger, was gay, and had been with his partner for almost twenty years. He was a flight attendant for a major airline, and Char was . . . well, she was just flighty. As their emails traveled all over the world, their friendship quickly took off with messages of joy and hope, laughter, and even a few tears.

While sharing their serious, humorous, and sometimes bizarre stories, they introduce an array of interesting characters they’ve met along the way, including an ancient proctologist, a bitter teacher, a transgender pilot, a wise Chinese man, a homophobic doctor, an uninhibited French lady, a judgmental Christian, a half-naked passenger, a generous hoarder, and a stinky houseguest. Through honest conversations sprinkled with humor, probing, acceptance, understanding, and love, Jim and Charlene seek to open hearts and minds to the undeniable truth that we are all equal and perfect, just the way we are.