Towel Dilemma!

Solution to his dilemma!

A satirical and whimsical post today on the useless absurdity of trying to conceal and to cover our nakedness with a towel!

News Dispatch:

There is an extreme crisis that is rapidly gaining in both popularity and in practice! Without warning, it is now appearing in alarming frequency not only online and social media but in actual reality the world over. So much widespread attention is now being focused on this matter that analysts are engaged until the late-night hours in a frantic attempt to contain the damage!

Before presenting a detailed examination of this serious emergency, we’ll pause here at this moment to offer some background on this situation…

Fig-leaf transparency!

Background:

From the earliest possible days, humans for some unknown reason became ashamed and embarrassed over the fact that they were not only born naked (without covering) but also lived their lives completely exposed – their physical bodies visible to everyone.

This blatant public exposure disgusted the masses as they sought escape from this senseless invasion of their privacy: their very own personal anatomy! Not only assaulted with the prying eyes of family and friends, but openly seen by all those they encountered – complete strangers!

So they adopted the fig leaf to ensure their discretion. Suddenly, you had to “stop” before going about and cover yourself with a fig leaf!

Stop and grab a fig-leaf!

Modesty and the Towel:

People responded to the idea of the fig-leaf and to the habit of concealing and covering certain parts of their body. Especially those anatomical parts revealed their gender. After all, they preferred remaining anonymous and their female/male status was viewed as “top secret!” They did not want the entire world to know every aspect about themselves!

The fig was a common food item and the fig tree was prevalent all around. Thus, the fig-leaf was accessible and plentiful – and a perfect natural cover! Soon, everyone had their own choice of fig-leaf: species/type, size, whatever they desired. Gradually, the issues of uniqueness and vanity evolved as it was now apparent that everyone possessed a fig-leaf!

The weaving of natural strands together to create cloth – for covering – developed to erase the monotony of every human attached to a fig-leaf. The approaching Ice Age introduced the additional need of cloth not just to hide one’s gender anatomy but also for comfort (warmth) as the outdoor temperatures dropped from tropical to cold.

Somewhere along the way of the “fig-leaf-to-cloth-weaving-to-cloth-covering-to-clothes” journey the necessity of cleaning and washing of all this increasing amount of cloth and clothing was realized. This reality was followed by the discovery that clean clothes on a dirty body was not compatible and the thought of doing this was absurd. Personal hygiene came into existence as did the birth of the towel!

No clothing, simply a towel!

The Towel Alternative:

The definition of a towel is: ” a piece of absorbent cloth or paper used for wiping and/or drying.” Over a period of time and for convenience, people began to modify this usage towards their personal needs. For many, once they dried after their bath/shower, they simply wrapped a cloth towel around their waist and proceeded with life. Actor Max Konnor demonstrates in the above .gif image. Life goes on!

As bare practitioners, my spouse, Aaron, and I recognize the ridiculous substitution of the towel for clothing. One of the undisputed reasons offered by practically everyone – both naturists/nudists and the textile (clothes wearers) – for the use of clothes is to conceal, cover, disguise or to hide one’s nakedness.

The generally accepted routine of using a towel instead of clothing for protection from being perceived as naked makes no sense. If anything, the casual nature of the towel alone infers our total nudity underneath. Obviously, we’re bare. An accidental/intentional slip of just one finger into the top of the towel and the entire “cover” drops to the floor! Instant body and clothes freedom – and in full view! No imagination necessary or required!

Assorted Dilemmas:

Brave removal!

Our man on the right (above) wants to return to the freedom and independence of nakedness. His identically toweled partner is instead deciding to continue to protect his privacy and keeps his towel covering his waist! Which practice will endure?

The useless towel is apparent to all!

Even among seasoned towel proponents, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the usefulness of this absorbent piece of cloth is nothing more than an illusion. Why bother to waste time wrapping it around your waist when all that’s necessary is hold onto it if you must (out of habit) and deposit it in the laundry while returning to your life? More than likely, serious thought will cause you to discard the towel altogether! Single handedly grasping the towel is no guarantee it will work!

Felipe Ferreira removes Raphael Horst’s towel!

The fearless and loyal bare practitioner, Felipe Ferreira, his towel-wrapped friend, Raphael Horst, to recover his glory and pride in body and clothes freedom! Which of the two will dominate and emerge victorious?

Traditional towel use returns!

Final Triumph:

At long last, common sense, decency and justice prevail! The senseless and shallow experiment of the towel as an absorbent and protective cloth of convenience – however misdirected and misguided – finally is following the ill-fated fig-leaf into obscurity. The demise of deceit is upon us all and bare practitioners are in jubilation over the outcome! The towel itself now resumes the role of a cloth to dry the body!

A growing amount of evidence is now determining that the delightful comfort of nakedness – whether social (communal or group) or solo (alone) – is returning to popular demand!

Towel-less domination!

All hail, bare practitioners! The wicked witch of cover-up, discretion and modesty is dead! Ding-dong the witch is dead!

Ding-dong the witch is dead!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 31, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! January, 2025!”

Posing Bare: Part 2!

Arm-in-Arm biracial couple posing!

Alternate Title:

Be Bold! Be Brave! Be You!

Introduction:

One of the complaints/excuses/reasons that many offer for not having pictures of their nudity is they lack experience in posing as a bare practitioner! My normal response to that statement is usually a simple question back to them: “What does a bare practitioner do?” A very basic inquiry that is more often than not answered with either a blank stare, a shrug of the shoulders and/or a combination of both!

Sadly, even if I rephrased my initial question into “What do naked people do?” the reaction would probably be identical. Beyond comprehension! Even if I asked this of seasoned bare practitioners, their reply, more often than not, would be consistent: no idea. Clueless! Apparently, the concept and/or the question is just too difficult for people to understand.

A unipod selfie poser!

Unsure of what to do? Take it easy and slow. Make a selfie! If you’re baffled. just strip off (remove) all your clothes – if you’re even wearing any – and pose for a photograph of yourself an no one else. Suggestion: A full frontal pose (like the above picture) is highly recommended. Regardless of one’s naked experience, most men are awkward posing with their penis visible. It’s best to deal with the most difficult task and then move on! So, go ahead and take your selfie now!

There, in one basic action you have met and satisfied the complete alternate title for this post! You were bold in taking off all your clothes, You were brave by posing front-facing and completely nude and you were your natural person by being solo (alone)!

Congratulations! You have now completed your first assignment! Remember this process! Now, if you’re ever asked: “What do naked people do?” you already have an answer. “We take selfies of our nakedness!” You now have proof: a picture of yourself posing bare!

Regrettably, we all know that the creation of one self-image does not qualify us for identity as an experienced model, but it does – at the very least – present us the notion that posing bare isn’t as foreign as it may seem. Maybe this project is a possibility after all!

A seated pose!

Assignment:

Set aside a specific day and time to shoot additional solo selfies of yourself. Try a variety of poses and some need to be full frontal so your penis doesn’t become “camera-shy!” This gives you the idea of how to appear (look) nude while helping to build camera-comfort and camera-confidence.

A kneeling pose!

Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! The more we repeat an action, the easier it becomes. Changing the location of the camera and/or the position you’re using (seated, kneeling, standing) offers a variety of pictures as a resource and it prevents boredom. This enables your harshest critic (yourself) to decide which pose looks/works best and which to discard or erase.

A standing pose showing modesty!

Perform these solo selfie undertakings on a daily or weekly basis, whichever is convenient for you. Keep in mind that you are the judge of what’s acceptable and what is not. No one else needs to know what you’re doing or why you’re doing it! You decide who views the results and/or makes recommendations! Be you! You pose! You make the image! You decide!

Michael Ealy: reading interest!

Share you:

During your convenient “camera-comfort” and “camera-confident” times, rather than let your mind wander aimlessly, carefully consider any subtle messages to include in your pictures (selfies). Some examples are hobbies, special interests, sports, etc. Anything that conveys to a viewer an aspect that you appreciate about or in your life.

In the photo (above), Hollywood actor Michael Ealy nonchalantly poses bare with a pile of books. He’s suggesting his pleasure in reading during his leisure (free) time time as well as his comfort with his nakedness. A replication of this image by you relays the same. If books and/or reading holds no value for you, consider something that does.

Athletics and sports significant? Grab a basketball or a tennis racquet! Swimming? Put on a pair of goggles and pose in imitation of taking a dive into a pool. Creativity has no limits – after all, we are posing bare! It’s common knowledge that all observations are focused on the nudity of the subject and not the objects featured!

Basketball fan!

Subtle messages:

In concluding this second segment of the “Posing Bare” series here on ReNude Pride, please return your attention to the header (first photograph) offered of the two men pictured with full frontal nudity. Both my spouse, Aaron and I are a proud biracial couple. He’s African-Canadian and I’m Greek. This fact is implied in the selection of this particular photo. We’re both bare practitioners, our skin is simply a different colour.

Also, we’re depicted “arm-in-arm;” not holding hands or embracing. As a profoundly Deaf man since birth, I communicate manually (sign language). Therefore, holding hands is just not convenient or practical for me. Aaron accepts, supports and understands this reality. If we’re walking holding hands, how would we communicate with one another?

Remember the adage: “Every picture tells many stories?” More truth than you can ever imagine!

Notation: The next segment of this series, “Posing Bare: Part 3!” will be published on Monday, 10 February, 2025!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 27, 2025, and the proposed topic is: “Towel Dilemma!”

Double Holiday Notes!

Becoming acquainted!
Pursuit!

Note #1: Nakation Planning!

Nakation: naked + vacation = nakation!

Bare hiking trail!

As the introductory buttocks (above) remind us, we don’t abandon our acquaintances, friendships and good times as we soon depart 2024 and welcome 2025! Now is an excellent time to anticipate our future and commence planning for another upcoming nakation! No matter how we travel, airplane, boat, car or foot, there are affordable arrangements that can be made this far in advance!

Investigate opportunities, share with others, look around you and research what is appealing, available and cost options. Removing the frustration and stress of immediate deadlines and time constraints provide us the chance to prepare ahead and to budget in advance of an overload of frantic tasks to complete within a limited amount of time.

Nakation planning does not require a detailed and elaborate availability. The time factor of a particular length of nakation can vary between a set number of hours each week to an entire month of freedom. It’s important that we all remember the basic: what truly matters is that the arrangements and desires are both accessible, affordable, convenient and satisfactory for us.

Bottom-line: it is our nakation! There is another benefit that I failed to include above. It is a naked vacation! There is very limited concern or worry over any type of “dress code!” Hopefully, as bare as possible!

Seeking!

Of course, a relaxing and successful nakation is not specifically guaranteed the expense, alone. Some of the best, the most relaxing ones and the most productive ones are the least expensive and simplest ones we create with our acquaintances and/or family and friends. As easy to organize as a one-day skinny dipping (swimming naked), the next day a bare picnic or cook-out, to be followed by a trip to a secluded site, sunbathing while natural with a good book.

The ability and freedom to be natural in nature often provides the comfort that we value. Another option is to enjoy the time away from the jobsite while bare and alone!

Confusion!

Many bare practitioners become so overwhelmed by family, social obligations and other demands and expectations during this festive season that the customary habit of enacting the tradition of New Year’s resolutions often is too burdensome, too restrictive or just “too much” to even consider. The chaotic, frantic and hectic nature of life experienced throughout this time of the year surpasses all the fun and joy that we’re supposed to be having! Where is it written that all resolutions must be made only on New Year’s Day?

My spouse, Aaron, and I are both frustrated and tired of this ridiculous and unfair custom. Our solution to this dilemma is basic, simple and thus far, manageable. Instead of New Year’s resolutions, we observe and participate in First Day of Spring resolutions!

New Year’s Day happens annually during the coldest season of the year. This always follows a very busy major holiday period where practically every waking moment is filled to capacity. Do any of us have the time to seriously examine and explore improvements we want to implement into our lives?

Treadmill fitness!

My husband and I prefer a less demanding and more relaxed occasion to introduce variations in our lives and in our routines. The First Day of Spring isn’t magical. It may not automatically begin an overnight change in the temperature and weather conditions but it lacks the urgency of the New Year’s season. The first of spring does offer a sense of rebirth and renewal, and that reality increases the chance of success in the resolution undertaking!

That factor alone aids in the improvement of the attitude towards flexibility and helps create an environment and mindset conducive to progress. It also enables the reduction of feelings of frustration and stress!

Subtle Example!

The opening!

Update:

My apology! This is not the announced post entry for today! I humbly am sorry to disappoint but the projected topic simply didn’t quite meet my expectations and I was very disappointed in the final composition. The late JFK Jr. deserved better than what I composed.

Fitness Routine!

As the winter holiday season is now upon us, a very gentle and subtle reminder of keeping our fitness a priority. It doesn’t have to be an intensive or strenuous routine. It can be a simple series of exercises to encourage circulation and mobility.

The examples depicted here today are not the only ones recommended, They show us a few options that we can utilize in order to preserve ourselves throughout the inclement season!

Use the examples featured here or create your own! The important thing to remember is to stay healthy and enjoy yourself!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, November 25, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Thanksgiving, 2024!”

Bare + Gay = Pay!

A bed of leaves!

Background:

It has been quite some time – at least three years – since I have referenced my bare and gay modeling job and/or the two years that I was involved with it. I have no embarrassment, guilt or shame over that fact/reality. After all, it was an enormous milestone in my life that contributed to the publication of ReNude Pride (this site). Credit should go where it is due!

While earning and learning my baccalaureate degree at my university, I was an active member of the Lavender Club. This was the student club for bisexuals, gays and lesbians. At that time, those three were the sole identities professed by our community and our membership. The overwhelming majority of us considered ourselves gay.

The second largest component group identified as bisexual and was predominantly male followed by the third grouping: lesbian. To our knowledge, there was no census, survey or research done to uncover the discrepancy in numerical memberships. The unofficial reasoning that circulated among us students was that none of the women wanted to be known as a “lavender lesbian!” This observation was often repeated in jest!

As a student member of the Lavender Club (please make a note of: lavender), our faculty advisor was Dr. Rose (please note: rose). He also was the coordinator of the university’s programme of using graduate students, if interested, as nude models for the art and/or photography classes. Lavender? Rose? Were the university administrators attempting to organize a “rainbow” of surnames for the bisexual, gay and lesbian students?

Bare Professional:

Autumn posing!

As referenced above, Dr. Rose was the sole coordinator for the university’s naked models for the School of Art and he was the one who interviewed all prospective candidates. My situation was different from the others as he was aware of my comfort and familiarity with nudity as well as membership in several Washington, D.C. area clothes free social clubs. He approached me into joining his group of bare models. Of course I agreed! My first assignment as a naked model was to pose for a photography class interacting with fallen leaves the autumn after my graduation. Interacting with a pile of Autumn leaves while the students photographed me? Really?

A simple task that was a nightmare of a challenge. How “creative” could I be with a pile of leaves? Dr. Rose repeatedly emphasized to my modeling partner and myself that the project entailed both our nudity and nature (the leaves). Using the leaves to cover our anatomy was absolutely not an option. Little did he know that was never considered as a possibility by me! My goal: naked, front and center!

As for my modeling partner, he was obsessed with the wearing of a facial Halloween mask for the project. When I asked: why? He answered that he didn’t want his family or friends to know that he was posing nude. I convinced him that this was a project for the photography students, not creating pictures for an art gallery.

Once the project began and working with the leaves developed a pattern, the job became somewhat easier. It was no longer a tedious task. The camera (photography) students started to interact with us and we performed, danced, showered and countless other methods of socialization with the leaves ensued! The class became enthusiastic about the assignment and the focus evolved into having fun!

I realized how fortunate I was. An openly (out-of-the-closet) gay man who was being paid for having fun being naked! The center of attention of this group of photography students as we manually communicated (using ASL) suggestions and ideas as to what to attempt next! A very cool situation considering the fact that we were outside and it was already late October!

Leaves everywhere!

While posing, I began to fancy myself as a performer (actor) in the gay porn industry! Naked with all cameras and everyone’s attention focused on my every move and every whim with no one judging or shocked by my body and clothes freedom or the obvious fact that my man-to-man attraction was not a “taboo” (forbidden) subject! An ideal career aspiration for a 21-year-old man!

Author’s note: imagine me, nude and gay, entertaining the world with my talents! Unlimited financial success due to my superlative relationship with leaves!

While posing, I began to notice that the sunlight seemed to fade and then return. Dizziness one minute and then disappearing the next. Suddenly, after gasping for air, I lost my sense of connection with reality. I felt as though I were floating on waves. The next cognizant thought I had I was on a gurney in the back of a trauma vehicle on the way to a local hospital. I had fainted!

I had lost consciousness and stopped breathing while labouring among the leaves! I had never experienced such an episode in my life! I was kept in hospital for two days and informed that I was allergic to pollen from my co-stars – the leaves! My identical twin brother, Alex, nor I had ever experienced any allergy reactions before! This was actually a first for the both of us as well as all of our brothers!

This incident brought an immediate termination of my exceptional career in pornography with leaves! I continued to work as a bare model for the university’s School of Art and Photography for the remainder of that scholastic year and the next. Henceforth, I restricted my assignments to avoid contact with fallen leaf pollen!

Carpet of leaves!

My diagnosis with an allergy served notice to my parents and siblings to undergo testing. Growing up, there were no serious or urgent health issues for any of us. Fortunately, only Twin (the familiar name Alex and I use in referring to one another) and I were the only ones determined to be susceptible to pollen. Another amazing distinction to being identical twins: Deaf, gay, nudists and now allergy sufferers. Our unique notoriety qualifications listing continued to grow!

Upon being informed of his pollen allergy, Twin immediately asked the doctor if he was certain his allergy was to pollen and not to our shared preference for nakedness! Our physician assured him that it was solely a pollen allergy. Even today, we continue to laugh over his concern as to the cause of our allergy! In his defence, he reminds us that we were “only” 21 years old at the time!

As a footnote to the allergy theme here, in our paternal family we do indeed have a cousin, Michael, who is also a Deaf and an active bare practitioner. Within our family, his own “claim-to-fame” is that he does not suffer a pollen allergy!

Landscaping!

Another footnote to my career as a bare model, I was relieved of any consideration for any future leaf responsibilities! However, in response to my incident, no engagements involving leaves was ever taken again by the School of Art! No one affiliated with the now School of Media wanted a repetition of my reaction and hospitalization. Evidently, once was quite enough!

A humourous closing note, shortly after my return to graduate studies at my university, a notice was anonymously posted on campus: “Warning! Roger does not play well with leaves!”

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, November 11, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Armistice Day/Remembrance Day!”

Cultural Imagery!

After SIR, 1969: gay begins to appear!

Emergence of Gay:

For numerous decades, the term “homosexual” was used to describe same gender loving people as both a definition and as a term synonymous with despicable and/or perverted. The late 1950s and early 1960s marked the transition of the meaning of the word “gay” from that of being “carefree and happy” to that meaning “homosexual” in British usage. The British interpretation slowly began to make its way into American language. By the time of the Stonewall Inn riots (SIR) of 1969, the British term was embraced by the same gender loving rioters and other protesters. For far too long and for too many, “homosexual” was too degrading and too prejudicial.

Vintage buttons proclaiming “gay!”

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Lambda!

Lambda:

The Greek alphabet letter “lambda” was designated in December, 1969, by the graphic artist of the Gay Activist Alliance (GAA), founding member Tom Doerr. Doerr chose it because in chemistry it was the sign for “catalyst.” In this context, Doerr offered that the lambda involved the complete exchange of energy. Tom Doerr also felt that the Greek lambda was symbolic of self-identification, unity and pride. Others argue that lambda denotes synergy of the growing gay movement: the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

In 1970, the lambda was adopted by New York City’s GAA as the emblem of their growing movement for gay liberation. In 1974, it was subsequently proclaimed by the International Gay Rights Congress at their meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, as their symbol for gay and lesbian civil rights. Following their designation, lambda became internationally popular and recognized globally with the same gender loving community.

Unfortunately, many women viewed the lambda symbol as relevant for males only.

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The Pink Triangle!

The Pink Triangle:

Just as the Nazi’s forced Jewish people to wear a yellow star of David, they forced men they identified as homosexual to wear an inverted pink triangle (die Rosa-Winkel) to identify their male gender preference. Those forced to do so were treated as the “lowest of the low in the concentration camp hierarchy.” It is estimated that 65% of those incarcerated as homosexuals died in captivity. Adolph Hitler perceived gay men as an impediment to purify Germany and as a serious threat to Aryan superiority.

After the concentration camps were liberated at the end of World War II, men imprisoned for homosexuality remained locked up. East Germany (communist) didn’t rescind the criminality of homosexuals until 1968. West Germany (democracy) didn’t repeal Nazi laws against homosexuality until 1969. Reunited Germany removed the illegality of homosexuality in 1994.

In 2002, the German government issued an official apology to all gay men who were imprisoned during the war. Rudolph Brazda, the last known concentration camp survivor who wore a pink triangle, died on August 3, 2011, at the age of 98.

Notation: The inverted Pink Triangle, located inside a green circle, is frequently used today to designate “safe” (protected) environments, facilities and spaces for GLBTQ+ persons.

A designated comfort zone for GLBTQ+ persons!

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The Rainbow Pride Flag!

Notation: The Rainbow Pride flag consists of six rainbow stripes. The colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The red stripe is always the top, the purple the bottom. When first flown, it held eight stripes but was soon revised to six stripes only. The colours represent the ideals below:

The Rainbow Pride Flag:

This flag was first publicly raised on June 25, 1978, in San Francisco, California, USA. It was unfurled over the city’s United Nations Plaza in honour of gay pride at the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. The original flag contained eight coloured stripes and was designed for the event and the occasion by Gilbert Baker. The initial banner was hand-stitched and dyed by Baker with the help of volunteers and friends Lynn Segerblum, James McNamara, Glenne McElhinney, Joe Duran and Paul Langlotz.

The original flag was reconfigured after the unveiling as the banner soared in popularity and the demand became widespread. The new design featured six stripes matching the natural rainbow. The flag discontinued the stripes pink (symbolizing “sex”) and turquoise (“art and magic”) as those two colours were unavailable in flag fabric.

Gilbert Baker conceived the flag would “empower his tribe” (the growing GLBTQ+ community) into a “rainbow of humanity.” The motif represented the movement’s diversity.

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The new Progress Flag among Rainbow Pride Flags!

Evolution: Pride to Progress:

Forty years after the appearance of the Rainbow Pride flag, the Progress Flag debuted as the new banner of the worldwide GLBTQ+ community and culture. The Progress flag incorporated the six stripes of the Rainbow Pride flag along with colours and designs that depict our movement as we march together into the future.

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The Progress Flag!

The Progress Flag of the GLBTQ+ Community and Culture

The Progress Pride flag was developed by non-binary (not conforming gender identity) artist and designer Daniel Quasar in 2018, forty years after the initiation of the Rainbow Pride flag. Based on the six stripes of Gilbert Baker’s 1978 Rainbow Pride flag, Quasar’s redesign celebrates the expanded diversity of today’s GLBTQ+ community and culture and encourages a more inclusive general society. The banner has increased the representation of discriminated minority identities covered by the GLBTQ+ umbrella.

Quasar’s creation placing black and brown stripes (emblems representing peoples of colour) and light blue, pink and white stripes (representing transgender and non-binary persons) in the shape of an arrow on the left of the Progress Pride flag. In Daniel Quasar’s own words “…the arrow points to the right to show forward movement and illustrates that progress towards inclusivity still needs to be made.”

In the Progress Pride flag, the black stripe has a double meaning as it, in Quasar’s intent, to represent not only the African race and their descendants but also “those living with HIV/AIDS and the stigma and prejudice surrounding them as well as all those who have succumbed to the disease.”

On the evening of June 6, 2018, Quasar posted the design for the Progress Pride flag on social media. When he woke up the following day, he discovered that the posting had gone viral. It was an immediate success!

Progress Pride flying over the University of Nottingham!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, October 17, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Spirit: Stop Bullying Day!”

October’s Bright Blue Weather!

October’s Bright Blue Weather

by Helen Hunt Jackson

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October’s bright blue weather.

When loud the bumblebee makes haste,

Belated, thriftless vagrant,

And goldenrod is dying fast,

And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When gentians roll their fringes tight

To save them for the morning,

And chestnuts fall from satin burrs

Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie

In piles like jewels shining,

And redder still on old stone walls

Are leaves of woodbine twining;

When all the lovely wayside things

Their white-winged seeds are sowing,

And in the fields still green and fair,

Late aftermaths are growing;

When springs run low, and on the brooks,

In idle golden freighting,

Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush

Of woods, for winter waiting;

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,

By twos and twos together,

And count like misers, hour by hour,

October’s bright blue weather.

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

Count all your boasts together,

Love loveth best of all the year,

October’s bright blue weather.

One of the purposes for us as students in a state-maintained residential school for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing to learn and memorize poetry was to help us gain an appreciation, knowledge and understanding of the English language. American Sign Language (ASL) and English are two distinctly different languages that may share a vocabulary (words) and little else. Twin and I can remember this poem as it was one of the first we had to commit to memory but it was also a major challenge.

The references to all of the varieties of flowering growth was not something easy for us to deal with. None of the plants were familiar to us, either in Virginia or in Greece. In order to finger-spell the names of all the different types, we had to first learn how to properly spell the actual name. We both recall the relief and satisfaction we both felt once this task was finished and we performed our assigned recital, in front of our class. Over and done!

Neither one of us have any particular attachment, appreciation, attraction or desire for anything related to the month of October! It’s another month, one out of twelve annually!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, October 11, 2014, and the proposed topic is: “Coming Out/Awareness Day!”

A Calamity of Souls!

Reading while sunbathing, poolside!

Book Review: A Calamity of Souls

Introduction:

Today’s post entry here on ReNude Pride is the title of the most recent novel from Virginia-native author, David Baldacci. The first edition of A Calamity of Souls was published by Grand Central Publishing in April, 2024. For more than two decades, David Baldacci has been among my favourite contemporary authors. Up until Papa’s death in 2018, whenever a new hardback by Baldacci was released, I always purchased two copies: one for me and the other for Papa. Baldacci, like Aaron and myself, still resides in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Background on A Calamity of Souls:

In my twenty years of reading David Baldacci’s books, I was aware of his Virginia birth and residency but was totally clueless that he grew up in the City of Richmond during the 1960s and 1970s. When my parents and oldest brother emigrated from Greece in the early 1970s, they purchased our family home in the Stonewall neighborhood, located in south Richmond between Semmes Avenue and the James River. The neighborhood where we grew up in was a primarily African-American area and one of the few in Richmond that accepted arriving emigrants. In A Calamity of Souls Baldacci acknowledges that with a “foreign” surname (Italian), Richmond was not a very welcoming municipality. We share that similarity. Same city. Different timeframe.

Richmond, Virginia, has the distinction of being the capital city of the failed Confederacy during the American Civil War over the future of slavery. Up until the arrival of the 21st Century, this fact was blatantly obvious. The undertones of racial inequality and and segregation based on skin colour were broadcast rather than hidden. The inability of the Virginia lawyer, Jack Lee, in A Calamity of Souls to comprehend the extent of the bigotry and hatred evident in 1968 in understood through the experienced eyes of the author, David Baldacci, and through his personal life experiences.

Synopsis:

Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially charged murder case sets a duo of Black and White lawyers against a deeply unfair legal system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama. The two are professionally joined by chance without any prior legal connection.

Jack Lee is a White attorney from Freeman County, Virginia (fictional), who has never done anything to push back against racism until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy White couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his professional skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already piling up against both himself and his client. He soon recognizes that he is far removed not only from his expertise but also from his obligation to best portray his client as innocent from the verdict in a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black attorney from Chicago, Illinois, who has dedicated her professional focus in advancing the causes of equality and justice for everyone, no matter their gender and/or race. She comes to Freeman County in rural southwest Virginia and joins with Jack Lee in a fractious and unwieldly partnership in an escalating legal conflict with the best and popular prosecutor in the Commonwealth of Virginia: the duly elected Attorney General. DuBose is cognizant of the reality that powerful archconservative alliances outside the state are uniting to counter the achievements and progress attained by the civil rights movement.

Lee and DuBose are practically exact opposites. Neither one of them alone can halt the official prosecutorial direction towards a guilty verdict and the death penalty. Yet combining together they forge forth towards a balanced and fair trial with the ultimate goal of true justice.

One of my Hellenic (Greek) comrades, a noted New York Times bestselling author himself, offered this comment on Baldacci’s A Calamity of Souls: “An instant classic. Not just a great American crime story this is a great American novel.” ~ Alex Michaelides ~

I’ve read the entire book – twice; as has Aaron, my spouse. The second reading brought forth details not captured in the initial exploration of the book. Aaron insists that I add here that the ending of the novel is absolutely not the ending anticipated or expected!

One of the aspects of Baldacci’s writing that is very impressive is his use of the interactions of the two attorneys, Jack Lee and Desiree DuBose, to illustrate the subtle use of conversation and the two different views of racism inferred from the same dialogue. Bias and racism are based upon personal experience. Thus, the situation will present different connotations and meanings to all the individuals involved.

Summary: A fitting irony

In his opening Author’s Note, Baldacci writes briefly of Richmond’s infamous Monument Avenue where Confederate celebrities were featured statues. When Richmond native international tennis legend Arthur Ashe, an African-American, died from an AIDS transfusion, a major controversy erupted when plans were announced to erect a statue in his memory along Monument Avenue. The conflict focused that Monument Avenue memorials featured White Confederate images. Ashe was Black even though he was actually born and grew up inside of the City of Richmond! Evidently, he was too “coloured” for the Confederacy!

Following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in early 2020, the City removed all the Confederate statuary. Today, Arthur Ashe’s statue is the only remaining one an all of Monument Avenue. A commitment to justice served! Obviously, the others were too White to be featured in the city!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Saturday, August 31, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! August, 2024!”

HIV Testing Day!

As the above statistical data chart demonstrates, clearly the observance of HIV Testing Day is providing some worthwhile results. The African-American population had repeatedly reported the highest incident rates of any racial/ethnic group within USA borders. Now that same community is offering rising rates of HIV testing throughout its population. The higher the testing, the lower the rates of infection. Progress is being made – at last!

Testing Day!

First observed in the USA as National HIV Testing Day on 27 June, 1995, the main purpose of the date was to encourage persons to take the test, get the results and know their HIV status. Since that time, it has gained importance and is now promoted as an international effort for all peoples, no matter where they live. The goal has now expanded to empower individuals to seek treatment if they are HIV+ and to expand research into seeking a cure.

Since 1995, treatment options have expanded and now include prevention choices that allow persons to continue living productive lives. HIV, when treated, no longer carries the fatal outcome it once generated.

If you haven’t already done so, please get tested and know your HIV status!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, June 28, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “SIR: Legacy!”

A Seasonal Disguise!

His pride is unfurled!

The original Rainbow Pride flag, held high, boldly proclaims not only his sexuality pride but helps to demonstrate to all his bare pride, also!

Enveloped with pride!

Welcoming the incoming surf with his same gender loving confidence and his exceptional pride in his nakedness!

Accompanied with pride!

Pride visually accentuated by the early flag in the colours of the rainbow and our emblem of our freedom to be proud of ourselves and who we are!

Submerged with pride!

No shame in being same gender loving nor guilt in being bare!

Awashed with pride!

Our lives, our pride!

Encouraging colours and words!

The window to the world publicly announced for all to admire and see!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, June 14, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “USA: Father’s Day!”