I’m From Battle Creek, MI.

by Mike Rock

State Satellite overhead image from Google Earth 2022

I was raised in a middle class neighborhood called “The Numbered streets.” I looked out the back of the house at a Plumbing supply store. My father worked in the HVAC field and my mom was a very successful saleswoman. I have one sister who has a wonderful family now. With all that being said, I was a chubby kid that was good in school and wanted to be in fashion, even if it wasn’t local fashion. I excelled in school, played trombone in the band, yes I was a band geek, and I had virtually no friends in school but went off to college with the few friends I thought I had. I tried to add to my friends and fit in by joining a Fraternity. Well, that was disastrous. College turned out to be tragic. I decided to make a major move and joined the Air Force. The Air Force went well, as well as it could. At this point I’m in my 20’s, so now I’ve traveled the world, still denying my true life and trying to be straight.

All that being said, I decided to come out to my mom. Christmas Eve was probably not the best day to do it. We cried and hugged and she told me she would always love me. My dad on the other hand said don’t ever call again.

Long story short, we have been through a lot as a family. Mom died of cancer, Dad is still in Michigan, my sister has two great kids and a husband, and my husband (yes, legally wed) and I live on the ocean in Rhode Island. I’m a Registered Nurse and am reclaiming friends from high school that couldn’t be bothered when we were there.

The moral to the story is, if it is tough when you are young, don’t fret. It WILL get better and you WILL survive. Just hold on tight for the ride. Trust me, I’ve seen the highs and the lows.

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