Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Proud to introduce Taj Farrant guitar player

I first discovered this kid about a year or so ago, I had to see more and hear more. As I did it became apparent that this kid had some serious talent as well as a bright future. In this video Taj explains how he was introduced to playing the guitar, and how he came to pursue his dream. This platform was a wonderful stepping off point for him. Many of his fans believed that his audition was golden buzzer worthy. Many of his fans felt he deserved to be in the finals of this competition. Like many fans did we all sent messages of support and encouragement to our young star. He publicly thanked Australia's Got Talent for allowing him to be on the show. Mature young man. Before this appearance he was featured on the Ellen show. Since this appearance he has performed with many stars, the most prominent name would be Carlos Santana. If Carlos Santana allows you to share the stage with him, then that is a major endorsement of anyone's talent. I am sure it is a moment young Taj will never forget.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 2 months ago in Beat

Germany

When I first arrived in Germany the country was still divided between East and West. I arrived in Frankfurt as required and on time. When I arrived in Frankfurt it was my first time being away from the home shores of the United States and it was intimidating to me. I had never been this far from Roanoke, VA. I was just eighteen and scared to death to experience anything that adventurous my first night so I stayed in the barracks. We were processed into the European theater and I was surprised by how quick the Army had this done.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 2 months ago in Wander

Memories Of Germany

As I stepped off the charter flight that cold day in April 1979, I knew not what to expect. Here I was for the first time in a country that wasn't my own. We had a sergeant meet us at the airport and then the police dogs came through to sniff our bags for drugs and contraband. I was just eighteen and never been more than five hundred miles from Roanoke, VA for any extended amount of time now here I was more than three thousand miles from home. I was like thousands of others before me fear of the unknown.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 2 months ago in Serve

The Realities of Divorce

My parents separated when I was eight. We lived in Virginia which meant the parents had to be living separately for one year. They had to wait one full year until their divorce was final. The most fought after in court is the custody of the minor children. Parents, lawyers, judges etc consider minor children as property. In the video Voice of a child of divorce, the young boy is writing a letter to his parents, he is explaining to his parents that he has feelings, how he develops is in the hands of his parents. Parents that constantly bicker over the children, in front of the child lowers their self esteem. By putting the other spouse down in front of your child sends a signal that they aren't worthy of love or being loved.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 2 months ago in Families

More Work lays ahead

I was watching a reaction video today. The lady reacting to the video/song by Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over troubled water. I started crying with the woman. This was her first time hearing the song. I thought back to the first time I heard the song and times were different back then. I was at my boyfriends house and had been bullied yet another day at school. I was also effeminate and didn't really stand up for myself because I was always smaller. I was an easy target for bullies. My boyfriend found this song on his new record, he came over to his bed, laid down beside me and held me as I cried. This was a new song and he started singing the words of the song to me, and softly kissed my tears away. He told me he would protect me forever. Being that I was a gay youth in the late 1960's and 1970's we had no positive role models to look up too back then. The gay youth didn't know that the father from the Brady Bunch was gay and many others. If we mentioned to our parents we were gay or attracted to other boys we were sent away for conversion therapy or sent to live with an aunt somewhere else. As I look back to this time in our history and to today, I see there has been much progress. But much work still lays ahead. While we are now to freely marry our boyfriends not all is well. I believe we have the right to marry, adopt and foster children. I don't feel we have the right to force a business to provide services to us. If it violates their religious beliefs, why should they have to serve us? Should we sue that business? I don't think so, because he does after all, have the right to refuse service. Does suing the business really do anything? The Supreme court ruled they can refuse service.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 3 months ago in Families

What this Song Means to Me

This song holds significant meaning in my life. This song came out about the time my parents separated. I had always looked up to my dad and admired him until he spanked me really hard and hurt me to the point of not being able to sit down.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published 11 months ago in Families

Book I Wrote

I use my book cover not to get more sales but quite the contrary. I am writing to discuss how parents can really affect their child's happiness and how mine affected my life. I knew my sexuality was different at an early age but had no one to talk to about it. I couldn't discuss it with someone who was gay because in the 1970's everyone was still in the closet and to come out as gay meant you were sent to gay conversion therapy.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published about a year ago in Families

Advice from a Travel Professional for a Smooth Vacation

So you have booked your dream vacation and have packed your bags. Now it is the day of your travel, let's look at what you can do to make your vacation a smooth travel journey.

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

Published about a year ago in Wander