Life Lived Late

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Life Lived Late

I learned the truth when I was eight
That love in my family was worse than hate
And little girls who were born as boys
found pains and sadness instead of joys
The chance to be who I really was
Might never happen just because
life was so much different then
and girls like me grew up as men

And innocence was torn asunder
life grew lacking in awe and wonder
never had the chance to grow
by thirteen things began to show
And no one to tell my story to
and left with nothing else to do
It all seemed oh so mean before thirteen

And now so much later in my life
All grown up with son and wife
Wishing for what could have been
Not much chance to begin again
A lament’s a pointless exercise
realizing there is none so wise
who treasures not what cannot be
Through tear-stained eyes for girls like me

To cherish what you truly are
No matter close or very far
In travels of maturity and closely held integrity
Your conscience rails against your choices
accusing you with angry voices
but silenced by the truth known not by youth

To those of us who felt the fear
Of some other life lived year by year
Authentic selves always set apart
except by words inside the heart
It was far away and long ago
the one inside they dare not show
when dreams were never meant to be
for ugly girly boys like me...

We lived our lives, and made our choices
Some affected by other’s voices
Regrets for another life not lived
that set aside what we really believed
but still with friends who by their lead
show dreams can finally succeed
It’s really not too late at sixty-five


based on At Seventeen
written by Janis Ian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oCTMcbQ1QE

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Comments

Better Late Then Never

RAMI

Your hopes and dreams may not be complete, but at least today, you have a place to display, who you are in your deepest soul. Here Andrea can be free to be whom she always wanted to be. And while not complete, you have many friends here who accept you, love you, and urge you forward to realize your dreams.

Beautiful words, from a beautiful lady.

RAMI

RAMI

Girlfriend, You've been reading my old mail.

Drea,
I have never heard our story better unfold. The terrible sadness amidst life's joys and the courage to play the hand as dealt, that is truly the story told.
Now 14 yrs later I know that 54 was not too old.
I do love you and your work. (and I have a crush on your avatar, lol)
Joani

Dance, Love, and cook with joy and great abandon

I can only agree with Rami and Joani

You have here a place to be yourself, and you are loved here. I know full well the frustration of lost time, but we made the choices we did, and somehow, have to make the best of the life we have left. Many, many hugs.

Dorothycolleen

DogSig.png

Wow

You made this your own Drea, and it's beautiful. Sad but hopeful.

Maeryn Lamonte, the girl inside

Maeryn Lamonte, the girl inside

Alison Mary

joannebarbarella's picture

Has left BC, despite the efforts of a number of us to persuade her not to go,

Joanne

Prob'ly

kristina l s's picture

a probationary Banana bender (Queenslander) these days, expat NSW'er mebbe, but... yeah.

Kristina