Three adults pose together indoors, two women and one man wearing a Santa hat. They are standing in front of a wall with a Santa Claus decoration.

Christmas presents come in many shapes, forms and sizes


In acknowledgment of the holiday season, the HRH Report sways from its usual format of reporting on the most recent LGBTQ news with this seasonal column. We will return in two weeks with hot topics.

The finale
Christmas presents come in many shapes, forms and sizes. Every year for the past 25 years, my present to my friends has been to throw a party. It’s not just any party, it’s “The Judy Garland Christmas Party.†You may have read more about it elsewhere in this edition of the MONTROSE STAR.
The themed celebration started out small with an intimate gathering of no more than ten friends and, over time, grew to accommodating crowds of as many as fifty. This year I had determined would be the finale. Not that we’ve grown tired of Garland, she’s timeless, but next year will be something different.
So now we retire The Judy Garland Christmas Show DVD, and Mychal Bass can stop looking for hiding spots for it.

A fresh start
Christmas presents come in many shapes, forms and sizes. The best present I received this year was a fresh start, as in a new job. A couple of months ago I began picking up on vibes that the company I was employed by perhaps thought I was too old for the job.
“You need to pick up your game,†and “this position needs someone with more energy,†are just a couple of phrases I heard around the apartment leasing office where I had worked for the past year and a half. OK, I can take a hint.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older, but proving age discrimination can be difficult and take years to litigate. After putting out feelers and touching base with former co-workers, I secured an interview with another company. Two days later I was called and offered a position that promises to be less stressful and pays more.
Funny thing though, I wasn’t too old to work out my entire two week notice, right down to a four-hour shift on a Sunday.

Nonny’s Santa story
Christmas presents come in many shapes, forms and sizes. I grew up in Rosenberg, Texas in a family of five children. Even though our parents struggled to make ends meet, they always managed to have presents under the Christmas tree.
My sister recently made a Facebook post that tells a beautiful story of appreciation and family togetherness. It’s about a talk she had with her grandson. I’m sure this is a Christmas present he will always remember. It reads:
“This week I’m on vacation & have been talking a lot with my grandson Jacob (12 years old). Today he asked me if I was disappointed when I found out there was no Santa Clause. I told him actually I was sad because I realized what my Mom & Dad had sacrificed all those years for us. There were 5 of us—I am the oldest. We usually got a board game & maybe a bicycle that all 5 of us shared & we were happy. I got tears in my eyes (happy tears) and Jacob got tears & said ‘I’m sorry Nonny.’ But those memories have made me who I am—appreciative of my family & my siblings & can’t wait to see them on Christmas Eve.â€

Mama’s Christmas blizzard
Christmas presents come in many shapes, forms and sizes. My mother left me with so many fond memories and, each time I remember them, it’s like a present from her. This is one of those memories:
As Christmas rapidly approaches, old softies like me seem to get a little melancholy. Like most gay men I was very close to my mother and find it hard not to think about her at this time of year.
I think I’ve inherited many of her finest attributes, including her love of Christmas. Growing up far from being the wealthiest family in town did not keep Mama from making sure that Christmas was always special for me, my brother and three sisters.
Mama loved decorating for Christmas. One year, when she was well into her seventies, I drove out to Rosenberg for a visit with her. When she answered the door, I could see a flustered look on her face.
As I admired her beautifully decorated Christmas tree, we sat down in the living room and I asked her, “What’s wrong?â€
“I just finished cleaning up the biggest mess I made for myself,†she replied. Prying her for details she said that she was decorating her Christmas tree with some wax snowflakes she had made, painstakingly putting a small mass on the tips of each branch.
“I started getting hot, so I turned on the fan. All of a sudden, I had snow flying all over the room. It was a regular blizzard in here!†she said, barely able to complete the story because she was laughing so hard.
Merry Christmas, Mama.

Johnny Trlica is the manager of the Houston Rainbow Herald Facebook page, your source for the latest LGBTQ news and information. Contact him at HRHeditor@gmail.com.

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