![[naked men in a pool]](pooltoys.jpg)
Photo: James Donald
Used with permission.
Photo: James Donald Used with permission. |
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I just got back from several days at the 1996 International Gathering of Gay Male Naturists, once again in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. There were 750 naked men of all ages, shapes, and sizes, sharing the beautiful location which also serves as a summer camp for kids. We slept in cabins, and ate in the cafeteria, and could participate in a huge number of events throughout the day. To get a sense of what the gatherings look like (and to see other photos by James Donald), see the unofficial GNI gathering page. (You might also enjoy Jim's Penis Central Page.)
I will share one experience with you. Every night, there
is an entertainment of some sort. Some of them are contests (best chest,
best "day old" buns, etc), sometimes performances and awards ceremonies
(Richard won a "Naked Quill"
award for a story he
wrote that I published in my Nudes-Letter about a naked experience he had
as a child), and on the final night, they have a Talent Show. I've been
to four of them since 1992, and I found each one to be the highlight of
the week. It is amazing how capable some of the men are; how clever and
funny, or how daring, or talented. I am constantly surprised at how much
more there are to the men whom I'd been getting acquainted with, and how
far beyond my expectations they go.
At the gathering this year there was one man I noticed on the first day who was very, very big. I saw him in the cafeteria at dinner on the first day, sitting with some friends of his who were also quite large, but he must have weighed about twice what they did. I didn't really pay any attention to him; I wasn't attracted to him, and I was busy taking in all that exciting flesh around me. My only reaction was the thought: "I hope I never get that big; getting thin and fit from that starting position is almost impossible. I'd probably have to give up hope." I don't remember thinking anything about the man himself. My reaction was probably a disapproving pre-judging (i.e. prejudiced) one, perhaps "how can he let himself get that way", assuming he must be weak-willed and probably nerdy and neurotic.
When I saw him on stage giving a wonderful performance of
"Old Man River", I was shocked at how easily I had dismissed him
without knowing a thing about him. The crowd loved him and gave him a great
ovation, well deserved and graciously received. It wasn't just that he
had a great voice; rather, his character and spirit shone through his
performance, and he was obviously someone well-deserving of the
respect he received. I know I've learned this
lesson before; it's terrible how quickly I forget, though.
The crowd's favourite number was a silent chorus of about twenty men, performing an ASL interpretation of Louis Amstrong singing "What a Wonderful World". The 600 men who had seats surged to their feet, and the applause and silent applause lasted quite some time.
One man told us of two young friends of his, lovers, both only sons, who had just died, and sang a very moving Elton John song about the love between a father and his son. He gave a great performance, and I was quite weepy by the end. Despite the emotion and the tears in my eyes, I certainly noticed how incredibly beautiful his bum was as he walked off the stage. Some things never change. :-)
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