Family Fun

I really liked this episode. There was so much going on, and I'm always so interested to see the stuff with Brad that I'm not there for. I think it was really brave of Brad to open himself up so much this week and show himself to be so vulnerable and disclose something so private and painful. I'm sure it wasn't easy for him, and I was very moved watching him talk about his past to Mickey. I found myself feeling so grateful that we are in each other's lives. Can't wait till the book comes out!

And I loved the stuff where my family finally meets Brad's mom and sister. I'm very close with my family and love them very much, so it was really important for me that they have a good experience while filming. We both appreciated that it was a lot to ask of both our families to meet each other after all this time (weird, I know!) on camera. But everyone got the celebratory spirit with which we were approaching this, and it ended up being so much more special that it kind of did make it worth the wait.

I knew my mom and Debby would hit it off and was so glad to see their conversation in my parents' kitchen. We had so much fun and both moms have stayed in touch since that day, which makes me very happy. And I was totally right about the dates of everything discussed on the show and usually always am right about that stuff as I have a great memory.

Aaaand I have no idea what was going through my mother's mind when she said she had never heard of a chocolate blackout cake!!! We used to have them all the time throughout my childhood, it's like a big New York thing. People, please back me up on this and tell me you have heard of a blackout cake! My sister, Maria, DID back my up that day. And I strangely did write a spoof of "Gone with the Wind" for my FIFTH (not second!) grade class, which was so insanely gay that I can't believe that didn't count as my coming out!

I loved all the stuff with our families so much, they were all so amazing agreeing to participate in this show when really, all told, we are a pretty private group. And I'm so happy we did it. Blackout cake and all.

It's been fun for me watching some of the smaller moments with Brad, like talking about slapping bow ties on him as an old man or what the dress code for our party will be. I'd forgotten those conversations had even taken place, and it was nice to revisit them because I feel it shows us as we really usually are (some will like it, some will not, as I'm learning), just kind of joking around with each other and hanging out. It's super easy and Brad's just the best, it's as simple as that.And I was glad to see Lindsay arriving in this episode (she really was that late!), because I just love her.

Thanks so much for watching! I think next week we have a fight. Ugh.

Best,

Gary

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