I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together

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Meet little Maurice Vellekoop, the youngest of five children raised by Dutch immigrants in 1970s Toronto. He adores watching Cher and Carol Burnett, making clothes for his best friend's Barbie dolls, and helping his mum at her basement hair salon. In short, he is unapologetically gay, which poses a significant challenge as his family belongs to the Christian Reformed Church, a strict Calvinist sect that is far from accepting of homosexuality. The narrative follows Maurice as he navigates weekly church services, catechism classes, and Christian schools, even participating in the Calvinist Cadet Corps. His struggles continue until he graduates high school and enrolls in the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1982. Here, his life takes a transformative turn, largely due to a class called "Plays In Performance" taught by the flamboyant Paul Baker, the first openly gay man Maurice encounters. Their friendship blossoms, and witnessing Baker's loving relationship with his partner Martin helps Maurice begin to accept his true self. However, this journey of self-acceptance is long, messy, and often humorous. This story offers a captivating exploration of authenticity, forgiveness, and the artistic journey.