December 1961

Gotta love me, I'm the baby. That's Mom (Betty), Dad (Ed), and my brother, Dan. I'm one week old.

December 1963

My second birthday. There are three candles on the cake because there's one to grow on. Must be a Missouri custom.

December 1965

My fourth birthday - please note the Christmas tree shaped cake. I still make that today on my birthdays.

December 1966

Dan and me posing for some type of Christmas photo. You can tell by the holly around the candle centerpiece.

December 1967

Dan and me in front of the Christmas tree wearing matching sweaters our aunt knitted for us. Nice bow tie, Dave.

May 1968

My kindergarten portrait. Pretty bold statement with that red sweater, big guy.

February 1970

Dan and I posing for a pre-church photo on a Sunday morning.

December 1971

With Dan and my cousins at a reception for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniverwary. I'm the short one on the left. I was bummed by the dull brown suit.

July 1971

On the banks of the Mississippi River with some stranger's dog.

April 1973

Easter Sunday morning. Yet another stylish bow tie with a nice, pink shirt. (I was young, it was the 70's.)

December 1975

My 14th birthday. I was so proud of that polyester leisure suit and the macrame choker. (I was young, it was the 70's.)

July 1979

My Tom Sawyer costume for the annual Mark Twain Parade in Hannibal, Missouri.

October 1979

I was a drum major for our high school marching band. (Go figure!) I'm on the far right. Where did we get all that shiny, red satin?

May 1980

My high school graduation photo. More gauze over the lense, please.

November 1980

Party pic from my first official college party. That's Sue. she invited me to this crush party. Poor girl. Could those glasses have been any bigger?

December 1980

Home from college for my 19th birthday. Could those glasses have been any bigger?

June 1981

Hanging out with fellow tour guides Katie and Phil at the Mark Twain cave. I'm the guy in the middle. Could those glasses have been any bigger?

October 1981

Halloween party at my college dorm. I seem to recall we were dressed as punk and/or new wave rockers. I'm the one on the right. That's my date Heidi. Poor girl.

May 1982

Another party pic from another college party. That's my good friend Dana. She knew the story. I wish she would have told me.

May 1984

College graduation. I'm on the top right. I'm with housemates Cathy and Lisa and our priest, Peter. It's a long story.

May 1987

Vacation in Texas with my ex-boyfriend. I'm on the right. I really, really loved that shirt.

December 1990

A family Christmas portrait. There's Betty and Ed, Dan with his wife, Carole, and daughter, Cara. I'm on the bottom right with another pair of huge glasses.

May 1991

We are now entering the cowboy phase. This is a gay rodeo in Oklahoma. I'm in the middle with a flat top! Friends Paul and Dennis complete the photo.

October 1991

Halloween party at a dive bar. I'm the devil. Paul's a Christmas tree. (He won a best costume prize but gave the beers to me because it was my idea and my green clothes he was wearing.)

December 1992

Christmas photo with Mom and Dad. I believe I had finally found some stylishly smaller glasses by this time.

August 1994

How to explain this....My office was in a softball tournament. I was the team captian. I'm pretending to be our super hero mascot by wearing our office flag as a cape. See, I'm flying. I'd like to say I was drunk at the time, but it was a Saturday morning. I do believe we had Jello shots for breakfast, though.

September 1994

My first trip to Paris.

May 1995

This was my going away party when I moved from Kansas City to New York City. That's my good friends Donna and Kate.

June 1996

Typical photo of me and my boyfriend, Michael. He's thrilled to be near me. I'm drinking a margarita.

October 1997

The cowboy phase took a shocking turn. I am a member of The Manhattan Prairie Dogs, a gay country/western dance group. This was one of our first costume incorporating skirts. Chic, no?

March 1999

Ready for a pajama party with dance bitch buddies Jared and Micah. I'm Cobalt on the left.

April 1999

Relaxing in Venice.

April 1999

Back to Paris.

October 1999

Here I am leading The Manhattan Prairie Dogs in a fringe-filled extravaganza.

July 2000

To France again and letting the hair grow.

January 2001

Holiday in Puerto Vallarta. That's good friend, Billy. That's the longest my hair got.

June 2001

Here's another fabulous Prairie Dog costume. Diggin' the wrist cuffs with fringe.

September 2001

Michael and I helping serve shrimp at a friend's wedding at Lake Champlaign, New York.