We don’t get out much. With our busy social schedules at home (you know, little league, gymnastics, kiddie parties, returning things to Target) and our lack of funds (hello, our primary breadwinner is a public servant), our kids aren’t exactly familiar with exotic locales. Then, there’s Grandma and Grandpa Colorado who live in, get this, Colorado, so guess where all our summer vacations are spent.
Well, along came a super-cheap weekend getaway package to Palm Desert and we packed our bags quicker than you can say over-chlorinated public pool with rats in the palm trees. Fairfield Inn by Marriot. Whoop, whoop!
You may also know it, as C.J. does, as the place with two beds. Four years of life and never slept in a hotel room with two queen size beds. It blew his mind, really, and we had to allow a good 30 minutes for him to jump from one bed to the other and back again and again and again. While he did that, C.J.’s brother opened and closed the pimping mini-fridge and put my half-full Vitamin Water on the top shelf, then the bottom shelf, then in the door shelf. You’d of thought it was Christmas morning.
And, then we were off! A short driving tour of neighboring Palm Springs and C.J. discovered a city after his own heart.
“LOOK AT THE RAINBOW FLAG!” he yelled as he hyper-ventilated.
“ANOTHER ONE!” he gasped.
“THERE’S ANOTHER ONE!” his face turning purple.
“Did you teach him that?” C.J.’s Dad asked me.
“How would I teach him that?” I replied. “They don’t exactly let the rainbow flags fly free in the O.C.”
“I just find it weird that of all the things to see in a new city, that is what he picks up
on. What are the chances?” he said, giving me a doubting look.
“Maybe it’s like me being drawn to and liking the Tiffany-green Tiffany & Co. box upon
first sight, without even knowing what it stood for. Some passions you just know and feel in your soul,” I reasoned. My husband dropped the subject, as he usually does when I mention Tiffany & Co.
In answer to your question, yes, as a matter fact, there was a continental breakfast. C.J. enjoyed a pink breakfast of waffles with strawberries on top and strawberry yogurt.
To my boys, nothing compares to continental breakfast. Nothing.
We ventured to the Living Desert, which was ah-mazing. C.J.’s Dad paid for the VIP shuttle and we rode around in a golf cart while C.J. waved to other visitors like he was Kate Middleton on her wedding day. Later that day, we took the kids to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. They were so excited; C.J.’s brother for the right reasons, C.J. for the wrong
reasons.
You see, C.J. thought that we said Ariel Tramway, not Aerial Tramway. He thought that he was going to see Ariel (a.k.a The Little Mermaid). He looked all over for her, bless his heart, but couldn’t find her. And, he started crying the saddest quiet tears. What would have been more perfect than a pink breakfast, rainbow flags and The Little Mermaid?
He cheered up as the tram ascended the mountain. Or so I’m told, since I didn’t go on the tram. You see, I don’t do well with closed spaces, heights, being at the mercy of someone else and my ears popping due to altitude. Oh, you have your hang-ups too, so please don’t judge. And, yes, I did consider taking a klonopin just to get myself up the damn mountain and experience it with my family, but that would have meant no margarita at Los Casuelas with dinner, so I let it be a cool “boys-only adventure.”
After dinner C.J. got the souvenir that has not left his head since our return to reality. A fuzzy Viking hat with long blonde braids attached. He takes the braids out, puts them in ponytails, wants braids again, flips the hair over his shoulder like Cher.
“I like my city,” C.J. said as we loaded into the car and started driving home on Sunday.
“A RAINBOW FLAG!” he yelled and pointed as we drove away from Palm Springs.
“ANOTHER ONE!” he screeched in delight, over and over again, until there were none.
Raising My Rainbow 
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LOL- My favorite part about this post is your comparison to the Tiffany box. SO funny. Btw, I just recently learned the Incan flag is also a rainbow- though an extra blue color! Fun!
I was just recently turned on to your blog, and I’ve been enjoying my unemployed days catching up on Raising My Rainbow. Very insightful, thought-provoking, and funny. Thank you.
I had a misty-eyed laugh down to my shoes reading about C.J. seeing the rainbow flags. Delightful.
At 5 or 6 years old I was a huge “Dr. Who” fan. My dad was driving and suddenly I saw my first, real, life-sized “Tardis” (aka a British police box), that Dr. Who uses for all his time travels. I nearly exploded and almost caused a wreck, but I also remember my unbridled delight. I hope C.J.’s delight in rainbows never diminishes.
Check out this article, I thought of your blog when I read it! http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/babiespregnancy/babies/article/995112–parents-keep-child-s-gender-secret
You go CJ! Don’t ever stop counting rainbows!!
That’s so great. I would propose that the rainbow flag looks the way it does because it appealed to the people who created it. So there’s no mystery to why CJ likes it, beyond the mystery of why some people automatically like pink, or rainbows. It’s pretty and it’s inclusive.
No more a mystery than why it’s a well-known phenomenon to see the word homosexuality in the dictionary and have the revelation, Oh yeah, that’s me, **without even knowing what it means.**
Bill:
OMG. I remember having that moment in the library in elementary school!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful stories with us. I love reading about your family and your incredible rainbow boy! I used to think my son was going to be the same way, because he always wants the pink or purple one and he likes princesses and flowers, but he’s starting to get more “boyish” the past 6 months or so. Whatever happens, I’ll love and encourage him with everything I have.
You’re doing the same thing with CJ, and I admire you for that. Keep writing!
LOVE it! Tell C.J. that a fellow rainbow kid is a real viking (on his dad’s side) and is headed to Iceland next week to visit family (after camp). If the volcano stops spewing ash that cancels international flights, that is. Think that will blow his mind? Maybe not, since the love of the viking hat is probably more about the hair than the fact that it’s a viking hat. Believe me, I get it. I won’t even get into the historical inaccuracy of the horns on viking hats….
I loved this story. He will remember those flags and the first time he saw them. It also provides tremendous validation for those of us who have led open, honest lives all these years. All the volunteer work to do festivals, marches, to be visible, this makes it worthwhile.
If your husband needs bolstering, show him the athletes of the Gay Games. Then let him know, jock or drag, that his son is going to be FIERCE because he’s loved for who he is.
This made me smile out loud. Even as a 40 something gay man and dad, the rainbow flag reminds me of “my city” too, a place where judgement is little, you can hold hands with the person you love without fear and you heart is truly joyfull to be just you.
LOVE this post.
-SH
So glad that CJ enjoyed his visit to Palm Springs — the rainbow flags had exactly the effect that they intended to have — delight.
Sounds like you covered the valley pretty well. No visit to the Knot’s water park? I think that CJ’s brother would have enjoyed it.
As always, another wonderful post! I read an article this morning that reminded me of your blog and I wanted to share it -would you have done what these parents did? I think it’s a very cool choice: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110524/ts_yblog_thelookout/parents-keep-childs-gender-under-wraps
love it! my favorite part might have been the mention of Target…lol. Great blog!
Wonderful post! Reminds me so much of my son, he is the first to point out a rainbow wherever he sees one! Thank you for sharing these mini stories. It’s very refreshing.
Thats just beautiful. Your stories always make me laugh and remember good stuff from when I was a kid. Thankyou for sharing!
What a wonderful adventure!
It always warms the cockles (teehee) of my heart to read about your family.
CJ seems to be a mini me. I was always like that until I was about school age. A lot of boys are, but most parents try to silent it and hope they don’t turn out gay. But I know hetero adult men who are (to use the gender terms) way more “feminine” and “girly” than I ever was.
Keep on posting. Always know for ever person who would hates on your blog or how you are choosing to parent, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, that wish they had parents just like you and your husband.