~Ali's~ Home Page 

(see the July 8th entry of my online diary for the text of the article.) 

 I now live near Portland, Oregon. I moved here in March of 2000 after a year in Green Bay, Wisconsin and 18 years in Santa Clara, California. I spent the first 19 years of my life in upstate New York, a tiny town, Rhinebeck, on the Hudson river about 100 miles north of NYC. I'm an accountant, but my girls are my first priority. I "came out" after 36 years of denial, and 15 years of marriage to a wonderful guy who was very supportive of my late discovery. I was also fortunate to have a very understanding family. My wife, Melissa aka Missy, and I met at work in December of 2000 and she swept me off my feet. We bought a house in December of 2001 and are busy with kids, dogs, house and work. I also started back to school to finally finish my bachelors! I finally finished in March 2005 and can proudly display my diploma on my office wall. On March 3, 2004 Missy and I joined about 400 other gay and lesbian couples and got married in Portland. It was the most wonderful, although long day. The Oregon supreme court disolved all those marriages this year. But that doesn't undo the vows we made to each other in front of family and friends and our minister and God. Someday people will recognize that we aren't a threat to anyone. I go to work, drink coffee, do my job, laugh with my coworkers, pick up groceries, make dinner, ask my wife how her day was, talk to my kids about homework or run them to basketball practice, do some laundry, read my email, go to bed and start all over again. We pay our taxes, go to church, do yard work, help my daughters girl scout troop. How that makes anyone elses marriage any less has got me. I teach my children to never use the word hate, but it's hard to explain why other's hate us just for being us. The best thing that's happened to us was to find our church. It's such a wonderful place and our pastor is incredibly compassionate. I've been so turned off to organized religion as my family was either Catholic or Baptist. Although, my grandmother couldn't have been a better Christian role model despite her church. I want my children to not only learn "Do to others as you would have them do to you." but to live it and understand it. I think it's as important as teaching them to read in this world. For more of my ranting, check my online diary at http://alisa.mydeardiary.com/ If I'm online you might find me through AOL instant messenger, my screen name is AlisaBrews. Also MSN messenger, search on my email momaab@hotmail.com. Or if you have ICQ, my number is 24651347.

  Alisa & Missy October 2004   

  Elena & Diana October 2004   

  Elena & Diana with their Dad, Kent June 2002  

  Our new house   

My diary at MyDearDiary.com An old friend encouraged me to write about coming out and issues that are important to me, so I've been keeping an online diary.

Old Pictures

  Diana and Elena December 2002   

  Diana and Elena January 2004, ages 12 and 10   

  Elena's School Picture, October 2003   

  Christmas 2002 (scroll to the right)