Tim Coburn - Cecil was my dad
I just retired after working for the government here in NYC for 38 years protecting children and helping families remain intact. With that knowledge and experience I really treasure what a great loving man my father was and am grateful for everything he taught me. From simple things like going fishing together in a dirt road pool of water to going to family reunions in Harlan County Kentucky, or when I, or any other of his 6 children were sick or had needs he was the caretaker. He was a protestant religious man of the Bible Belt, but when I was 19 and came out to him as gay he didn't turn his back instead he tried to learn more he even went with me and some friends to a big gay disco one night I know he felt a bit out of place but he tried and on a few other occasions too. When I was a left wing gay activist in Madison, Wisconsin and gay bashed in a coma he took time off to go back and forth until I came out of the coma (about a month), and actively helped my recovery. My father and I had alot in common as a kid I used to love his music I would go through his records, 8-tracks, and cassettes listening to country like the highwaymen, and good old 50s and 60s rock and roll. When I started following bands and became a groupie to the Grateful Dead my father even went with me to several shows he loved how the Dead brought back to life that old rock and roll along with bringing to life. some country and folk too. I will always have part of my dad's spirit in my heart and as I get older and have fewer and fewer living relatives I am grateful I had such a great usually quiet and laid back dad who kept me safe and no matter what never rejected me. In these days when I have seen families who are dysfunctional and at times totally negative I thank the power of light to be blessed with a dad like mine.
