My super awesome and diminutive niece turned 16 in May and I flew in just in time for her family birthday dinner. She is so non-materialistic and charmingly low key, so shopping for her can be a challenge—so after she opened her presents, I offered her a shopping trip of her choice in case there was something she really did want. It was a present for me too as I got to spend some quality time with her and talk about her life, school, boys, what's the what these days. She broached the topics of teen drinking and gay-friendly attitudes herself, both topics of keen interest to me. Some of her friends, and a lot of kids from another high school, got up super early to protest outside the State Captiol against the "can't say gay" bill (can't mention any sexuality other than heterosexuality in Tennessee schools) which just passed a TN Senate committee. I loved taking Ellen shopping, but felt awkward at Forever 21 trying to manage the "I'm your fun uncle participating in the teen fashion selection" and not looking like "creepy guy in the teen girl store in the mall." And not looking at the high school boyfriends of these girls who were little A&F models.
Family dinners are always fun and I loved it, and how little Leland bowled past Franna and Papa John to run into Uncle Wilson's arms.
Ellen is very musical, plays piano, writes her own songs and such—and for her birthday asked for a ukulele. Franna gave her a nice one, and reminded us that growing up, Mom used to play the ukulele all the time. So awesome. Had I had the known, I might have asked Seattle Bill if he could have gotten his good friend Charo to sign it for her.
Happy birthday Ellen!
And, while I'm at it, here's some mockery of the above mentioned Tennessee Republican "Can't Say Gay" nonsense:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| We're Here, We're Queer, Get Newsed to It | ||||
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