The P ublisher Po stulates
T he other day I heard
someone describe
me as “different.”
I thought about
it, and I decided I am
different, and it is not my
fault. You see, my parents
were different, and they
raised four children who
are all different. I believe
my parents had no idea that they were
different, or that by living with them,
my brother, two sisters and I were also
becoming different. Our parents were
different in that they encouraged each
of us to be whatever we wanted to be
and gave us the freedom and respect
to follow our own paths. They were
supportive, but not overbearing, loving,
but not smothering, and they led lives
full of joy, happiness and success. Thus,
we grew up expecting the same lifestyle
for ourselves. Our parents were gracious,
sharing extroverts, who brought smiles
wherever they went. They encouraged
each of us to do and be the best we could,
but without setting goals or expectations.
We knew we were loved unconditionally,
and they assured each of us that they
loved us the most over the others. They
could do that because we knew they loved
each of us for different reasons and that
there was never a competition. They were
kidding me, and we knew it.
I showed signs of being different at
an early age when I choose to take ballet
lessons rather than play sports. And, for
any of those who think my particular
style of dress is unusual, let me assure
you I began wearing costumes before I
was 5, and at every stage of my life, I have
endeavored to have a personal flair that
stood out from those around me, even
during the ‘60s and ‘70s, when outlandish
was commonplace.
I can squarely place my sense of humor
and my lack of social filters on my father.
He set the standard for my comfort with
saying the outrageous. However, my
mother does not escape blame, since she
didn’t try to discourage either of us from
using colorful language, despite being a
true Southern belle with the most ladylike
of vocabularies.
34 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2019
I’d like to think that
my appearance of being
different is just external.
However, the truth is
that where I am most
different is in my thinking
and emotions. I have an
unnatural devotion to
friendship, loyalty and
doing the right thing.
These are the attributes that I value the
most, yet others are not as aware of them
as they are of my weird behavior and
sartorial style.
I may work diligently to make myself
different outwardly, but internally my
differences were set years ago by my
mother and father, who lived their lives
in a manner that has served as a guideline
for me in my life. I often think about how
my mother and father would feel about
the decisions and plans I make for myself.
Once I imagine their approval, I proceed.
If they might have doubts, so do I. If you
feel the same way, maybe I am not as
different as I may think. 9
Publisher / Editor
I AM DIFFERENT
By Aaron R. Fodiman
Drawing by Bruce Norris
The older I get, the more I realize how much my earlier
life experiences have made me what I am today.