robertpatrick

[robertpatrick]

the photo box--chapter 34

Okay, so I’m a couple of days behind…no matter. There’s just 15 chapters left to publish at my Substack, The Photo Box. A new chapter is published every Saturday at 8 AM CDT. These are personal essays about my experiences growing up in the 60’s and 70’s during the cultural and sexual revolutions of those decades. Please consider subscribing to my Substack, it’s free! “This photo was taken the…

[robertpatrick]

Trees,The Early Years

Moving right along… Chapter 22, Trees—The Early Years, from The Photo Box, a collection of personal essays, is now available on my Substack. https://robertpatrick1.substack.com/…/the-photo-box…

[robertpatrick]

Chapter 14–Disappointing Dad

Read the latest chapter of The Photo Box on my Substack, robertpatrck1.substack.com. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing, it’s free. (And I would be eternally grateful.)

[robertpatrick]

Christmas 1986

Author’s Note: Although I’m publishing my memoir, “The Photo Box” on Substack (robertpatrick1.substack.com), its timeline ends in the summer of 1982. This then is a memory of Christmas 1986. 1986 was the year that Marty was in every photo taken the evening of our Christmas dinner party. When we got the photos back from the developer we couldn’t wait to get home to look at them, so we sat in the…

[robertpatrick]

The Photo Box -- Now on Substack

To be honest, I’ve struggled to define what I thought was my memoir, but have determined that it’s less a memoir and more of a collection of memories of childhood and early adulthood. Each chapter is prompted by a photograph, some are mini-memoirs with an emotional arc for the protagonist, others are just ruminations on friendships, lovers, and my mother’s mysterious life before I came along. I’m…

[robertpatrick]

We Got Married!

After 42 years together, we have finally tied the knot! It’s official, we are now husband and husband! Michael Horvath and I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and well-wishes on the occasion of our wedding. Your love and support is truly appreciated. We thank those who came great distances to witness the union of our love; and many thanks to our dear family, and friends (both…

[robertpatrick]

the photo box, edit update

I’ve been busy with numerous other projects, but took a few days to reevaluate some suggested edits from my editor and have decided to delete this chapter and two others from “The Photo Box”. It’s not that I don’t like them, but they didn’t add anything to the memoir I have written. Thought I’d share this one as it’s a favorite of mine, a little darling, if you will. Sic Gloria Transit…

[robertpatrick]

True Confessions of a Drama Queen

It’s a hard lesson to learn: the fact that your dreams have no footing in reality, or at least in your future reality. But what do you know when you’re 14 and your inner life is arguing so forcibly with your outer life? When how you feel on the inside doesn’t jibe with the expectations of the outside world if you even think about it so realistically–realistic thought truly the privilege of time…

[robertpatrick]

my gay manifesto

Why don’t you sit here next to me and put your feet in the water, hmm? See, isn’t that better now? Yes, we’re under attack from the radical Republican right, again [sigh] and we’ve gone through this many times before. We’ve worked hard over the past 50 years to achieve a modicum of legal victories–that, all things considered, shouldn’t have needed to be done. But sexuality being what it is — an…

[robertpatrick]

Memoir-in-progress update: The Photo Box

Photo by Patrick Waddell, Margate Terrace, Chicago, 1974 In the final stretch in preparation for my editor’s second editorial assessment read-through. Cleaning up little grammar bumps and grinds as well as tightening my memories to reflect the times more accurately. Which has led to what I’m calling “memory exhaustion” (see below). “The Photo Box” is an exploration of my journey to adulthood…

[robertpatrick]

#fbf this perennial chestnut: Christmas 1988

#fbf this perennial chestnut: Christmas 1988

Christmas 1988 at 6817 N. Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  Although we had started modestly enough (just one guest on Christmas Eve that first Christmas six years before this one), our ‘tradition’ of hosting a Christmas Eve party quickly went viral (used in a 21st century way and not in the musty old 1980’s way), and among our group of friends and associates became the much anticipated event…

[robertpatrick]

The Photo Box, update

“The Photo Box” update: was doing some historical research online for my memoir when I stumbled upon this postcard from my maternal grandparents motel in Gillette, Wyoming. They, Bessie and Ralph Holmes, owned this motel and another down the street called Apache Corners (Apache, for sure, Corners may be incorrect) in the 1940s till the mid sixties. Always a treat to visit because we got to stay…

[robertpatrick]

The Photo Box, a Memoir

I’m writing a memoir, “The Photo Box”, and have worked with Jay Blotcher to help me write the best memoir I can. He’s got 30 years experience and his insights, knowledge, and critiques I have found invaluable. I believe his assistance will be of great value to me and my work. “The Photobox” is an exploration of my journey to adulthood during the sexual revolution of the 1970s and the historical…

[robertpatrick]

Diagnosis

In July 2021 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease; I was 68 years old. It wasn’t a surprise, in fact, it was a relief. It helped explain all of the physical things that had been going wrong over the last several years. The hoarse voice was the first indication. Over the past 2 or three years, whenever I spoke with people, my voice would catch, sound scratchy and invariably, someone would…

[robertpatrick]

Happy Birthday, Mom, I Baked You a Cake!

Happy Birthday, Mom, I Baked You a Cake!

one year, i baked her a cake and shaped it to look like a butterfly with white icing and red licorice details. thank you to family circle magazine for the inspiration. sadly the quality of the photographic evidence is poor as the white icing of the cake melds so perfectly with the tinfoil wrapped display tray as to make it nearly impossible to discern its beauty. I don’t remember how it tasted,…

[robertpatrick]

Sweeter Voices Still

Look what came in today’s mail! I’m honored to be in the company of these writers. Many thanks to the editors, Ryan Schuessler and Kevin Whiteneir, Jr. for including my essay, “How to Operate a Hide-a-Bed” and to @beltpub for believing in the power of the written word... #lgbtq #anthology #voices #fiction #nonfiction #memoir #poetry Support the arts, it’s just $20! #gaywriter #gaylife #midwest