All Grown Up Now

Now that the story has ended, the people involved just didn't disappear--their stories continued. This is what happened to them. 

All Mark ever wanted was the most normal things in the world--good friends, satisfying work, happiness.  We start the episode with just that--a dinner party where Mark, Ken, and two other of Mark's friends are enjoying roast chicken and vegetables--the most normal thing in the world. Events develop from there.

In this episode, Mark and Ken start out to update Mark's Gay Card, which is seriously in arrears, by attending the director's cut of David Bowie in The Man Who Fell To Earth .  This experience was not a good one.  Afterwards, Mark has his first art exhibit in almost twenty years! Then, he and Ken plot to kidnap Gordon from The Netherlands.

In this episode, Mark and Ken get surprised by a lawsuit after the commando raid.  This is where Ken remembers his experience from his youth--crazy people are unpredictable.  You can't predict what they will do. In the meantime, Ken gets to go on a dream date with the Man Downstairs-hilarity ensues!

In this episode, Mark finds an apartment, and starts getting harassed in person by Victor. Ken writes the petition, which Mark argues for himself in court, winning a restraining order with conditions.  The next day,Ken and Mark do a commando raid on the apartment in Los Angeles, decently-attired,wearing underwear. Hilarity ensues!

In this episode, Ken begins by filling us in on the five-year gap between Act 2 and Act 3.  Once the two land in San Francisco, the journey out of this domestic violence situation begins.  With brief detours for fashion and style.

In the beginning of Act 3, Ken gets a call from Mark in March of 1995--five years after they last spoke.  In this episode, Ken goes down to Los Angeles to kidnap Mark and bring him back to San Francisco.  Ken also gets some lessons on domestic violence and the gay community as it was at the time.

In this episode the family makes the move to Oklahoma City, and descends into a vortex of domestic violence.  There were bright spots, though-Ken has his first boy crush, and has a life-changing revelation at the hands of Miss Ann. The episode ends, with Ken drawing a hard line with Mark about the domestic violence he is experiencing with Victor.  The end also is the end of the friendship (Ken bel...

When Mark admits to Ken over the phone that he is getting beaten regularly, Ken expounds on the evils of domestic violence. As an example, in this episode and the next, Ken will tell Mark, and you, Dear Listener, about Miss Ann's second husband, and the domestic violence he experienced by watching the two of them.

In therapy, Ken looks at the similarities of Mark to Miss Ann.  They look at her bad decisions,  depression, and the used-car salesman who boondoggled her out of the college money.  As amusement, we get to hear about how Miss Ann wins the "Stand By Your Man Award" for 1977 in the process!

He sat on the edge of my bed, and I asked him if he had died the day before.  He said that yes, he did, but wanted to come back to tell me everything would be OK.  This is his story.

After Miss Ann dies, Ken sees how her family behaves, which helps him to understand why she was who she was.  We also hear from Susan, Ken's own "Auntie Mame", and hear some of her philosophy on life!

In this episode, Ken gets over his prejudices about self-improvement and gets into therapy. In the midst of his glamorous success, he needs to take some time out to deal with Real Life issues with Miss Ann in Oklahoma City.  

 Ken's career starts to rev up, as he picks up the remnants of his life after divorcing the Trophy Husband. The Very Posh Store orders hats for Ken's favorite rock Star!  This success puts a strain on the friendship between him and Mark. In the meantime, Miss Ann finally "gets" what Ken's doing with his life.

In this episode, Ken goes through a messy divorce from his Trophy Husband, and the Stock Market Crash of 1987 all in one season!  We also get to see Ken bathing in the nude!

In this episode, Ken makes his escape from his "real job" in window display to start his business.  In the meantime, he visits Mark in Long Beach, and has an epiphany that pushes him to escape his own relationship.

Mark gets Ken his first design client, which spurs Ken to start his own business.  While Ken is starting a business, Mark disappears to Los Angeles. Also, Susan shows what a good sport she is by attending all sorts of weird performances with Ken, while wearing odd accessories!

Ken makes the leap to working in window display at Macy's, where he has a Boss From Hell.  He also meets Loren and Craig, the two display trimmers who teach him more than display-they tutor him in the art of the Bon Mot. In the meantime, Mark introduces Ken to his first paying client, which plants the seeds for a new business!

This begins a new phase in the friendship between Mark and Ken. Ken had his revenge, and started spending quite a lot more time away from Mark. In Act 1, the relationship looked somewhat like a parent/child relationship, with Mark serving as the parent/older brother figure to Ken. In this phase, unconsciously, the friendship changed to one of the child going out into the world and leaving the pare...

In this episode, we follow Ken as he explores the social whirl of his new adopted city, San Francisco,  We'll also get to meet The Bishop, and follow Ken's brief career as a Cute Young Thing.  We also get to meet Susan, Ken's own Auntie Mame.

In this episode, Ken makes the Big Move from Oklahoma City to San Francisco!  Once there, h gets established in his job, finds an apartment, and gets into the swing of things in his adopted city.  In his travels, he meets The Bishop! This podcast is now sponsored by BearWorldMagazine.com

In this episode, in the spring of 1981, life is wonderful in Oklahoma City! Out of the blue, though, Ken gets a letter that will change the course of his life!

The romance between Ken and Darrel blooms. Also, an attempted suicide by a friend brings them closer together. Plus, we meet Harry, who became one of Ken's mentors in the early days.

The romance between Ken and Darrel blooms. Also, an attempted suicide by a friend brings them closer together. Plus, we meet Harry, who became one of Ken's mentors in the early days.

While hanging around a classy joint, Ken meets, and inadvertently dates a future felon.  Later, Mark up and moves away, surprising Ken.