I took the children for a day at Universal studio today..so my subject could quite literally be anyone, this place is a melting pot of cultures, personalities, diversities, countries..and dress codes!
What happened was a guy all in yellow, dressed in a ‘Minion’ style, he completely dominated my attention at every turn, he kept appearing in my eyeline…so not deep, or profound just crying out for attention!
He also happened to be English! What I have discovered is quite interesting, the English responses to my questions are much less emotive, not deep or detailed or containing words describing feelings, more matter of fact..we are much more reserved. Well ok, some of us Brits. Not me obviously!
Name: Terry Lane
Occupation: Estate Agent (Realtor to my US friends.)
1.Where were you born and raised.
Chingford, London. (I thought this was in Essex but apparently not for the past 40 years, shows how old I am!)
‘I was well brought up, my Mum & Dad separated but we had a good upbringing, I have a brother and a sister and a half brother from my Dad’.
2. Tell me childhood memory.
‘It has to be going to Disneyland Paris and being here has brought it all back. I went there a couple of times as a kid. It was a surprise and it was a first time on an aeroplane and there was a 4D ride ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids’ it was new at the time and amazing.’
3. What is your favourite season and why?
‘Summer, I like the heat. I was born in August, so summer. Everything is just easier in the summer.’
4. Tell me about someone you love.
‘I’m going to have to go with my Mum here. Just because she is like my best friend. The one person I would say I have loved through my whole life, I just can’t explain it. She’s very laid back, she’s a really lovely lady, single, so she doesn’t have anyone around her. I have just bought a house with her. She’s been ill her whole life and had epilepsy and she’s just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It’s literally just happened in the last two months. We have researched it and its not as bad as you think. When she was diagnosed it was like ‘Oh my God, you’ve got this but we looked into it, it wasn’t so bad’ Her name is Maggie.’
I had a conversation with Terry about when he came out, he is on holiday with his partner Gary of three years. When asked, Terry said that he actually hadn’t come out to his family albeit he is in a serious relationship.
‘That hasn’t really happened yet, it has, but not. It’s a hard subject to talk about really. She knows, I think, but we have not said anything yet. She won’t care, its the surrounding people I worry about’. The people I have grown up with all my life I don’t know if they’d understand’.
Looking at Terry I explained to him that it is kind of apparent, they all probably know and love him anyway. In my opinion if they don’t then thats their loss. Sadly, Its clearly an issue between Gary & Terry as he has yet to be introduced to Terry’s Mum and is struggling with this.
I feel for Terry, I can’t imagine how it feels, but am sure its not easy. He is a sweet, quiet guy, despite his outfit! Perhaps it is his work or the persona he has created but living a life of half truths must be very difficult for him and for his relationship.
5. What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life?
‘You should always put yourself first I think.’
Terry’s answer to this question made me laugh, he is the opposite of his philosophy. When we talked he quite clearly put everyone else before himself. His Mum, his friends and family but perhaps not Gary!
‘I don’t really listen to my own advice!!’
This is clearly a young man still caught up in worry about what others think of him..this I think will pass with age. Thankfully it has with me.
6. Dreams for the future?
‘Just to be happy really, just to be out there loving life, being yourself, maybe moving somewhere like here, nice and hot.
Terry’s response to my question was that of a young man, not deep and fortunately not full of pain but sadly still with anguish and full of struggles. Here is someone who has made a lifestyle choice, loves another man but cannot share the joy of that relationship with all the other eople he holds dear. I know if I were Gary I would struggle with it, you want your partner to show you off and be proud of you, I hope he finds the courage to tell his family what I presume they already know, soon.
