Vacation post #4 - not what it used to be (Patreon)

Artwork by Mike Dawson 

CW: hate groups, harassment.

It used to be that I looked forward to Cape Cod year round. And introducing Alex to it opened up many unexpected doors from trying new foods to enjoying new places.

But things have changed there. I first noticed it when I began wearing speedos. Mind you they are rather revealing, but no more (perhaps less) than the bikini bottoms that are commonplace on the beaches.

Mostly I got stared at. But after a while I began to notice glaring. There’s quite a difference.

In 2016 I was got harassed. I went to go swimming in a nearby pond alone. I was met with a bunch of adolescents who started making fun of me. I chose to ignore them until I had enough. As I stormed away they got into a rusty red pickup and suddenly I became aware of how alone I was. Were they going to run me off the road? Would things become violent?

2018 was worse. I was with my family boarding a shuttle going back from Coast Guard Beach. For whatever reason I sat apart from Alex and my family. A large man maybe 50ish demanded the seat next to his wife. He seemed enraged by my very presence and took measures to make his hostility known - to include shoving my things aside, talking about me as if I weren’t there, fist clenching, teeth gnashing. When we walked back to our car he yelled “I bet you voted for Hilary!”

...Ya got me there guy, of course I did!

That same year I saw dozens of similarly angry men sporting Blue Lives Matter apparel. This year that number doubled. Flags, bumper stickers, banners, posters, hats, shirts, tattoos.

None of that existed in my childhood. Was it always so hostile? Had I been sheltered or simply not seen it? (Yes)

When I wear “normal” bathing suits I am not glared at. I wore my speedos only three times this year and I don’t like that.

I can only imagine what Alex has gone through. I hate to think of how unsafe she may have felt while on “vacation.”

We’re not going back next year and while part of me grieves, another part is relieved. Perhaps even vengeful.

Honestly? Fuck those people. They can all kiss my ginger speedo ass. Alex and I are taking ourselves and our business elsewhere.

Shame on them.