Kelly L Price - Somewhere Under the Rainbow

Copyright 2021 by Kelly L. Price and Jayce Kennedy Price.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. For permission contact the publisher.

Kelly L. Price and Jayce Kennedy Price assume no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First Edition

ISBN:

Hardback: 978-1-950035-05-2

Paperback: 978-1-950035-03-8

eBook: 978-1-950035-04-5

Audiobook: 978-1-950035-06-9

Library of Congress Control Number 2021904130

Published in the United States by Blue Agama Books, 506 Peery Parkway, Golden, CO 80403

Editor: Cate Lockton Byers

Photography: Foxfish Photography

Cover Design: Joel A. Bass

Interior Layout: Michael Jenet, Journey Institute Press

Visit us on the Web at www.undertherainbowbook.com

Dedication

For Daniel, my amazing husband, jumping off cliffs with me for twenty years and still without a parachute.

Acknowledgements

None of this would have happened without Jayce Kennedy Price. He is an amazing kid who has taught me more and given me more than I could ever give him.

Daniel Price, whose question about where we would put Jayce pulled the wheel chock off the train and started it rolling.

The Kennedy family; Brian, Vivian, Isabelle, Charlie, and most of all Peter, for being amazing activists, advocates, and friends for all these years. We are lucky we know you.

The Pesce family, Tim, Michelle, Anna, and Chiara, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in every instance to give Jayce, and by extension me, an extended family.

The Langhorst family, who are beloved friends and have been since our kids were little runts, and whose caring and generosity have carried me many times.

The Panzer family, who have taught me the value of connection and community.

My parents Dave and Linda Van Keuren, who once opened their home to my own childhood best friend when he was in crisis and scared and alone.

Kaiden Price, who never fails to say, Can we adopt this one too? when confronted with yet another potential Price kid.

Gabrielle Price, who understands unconditional love better than anyone I know and who captured Jayce perfectly for the cover of the Jayce File.

Mareille Price, whose wisdom and practicality have helped me see the world through new eyes ever since they arrived in our family.

Kari Cochran, for talking me off multiple ledges as this process unfolded.

TC McCracken, for comedy above and beyond the call of duty.

Emma Watson, for being inspiring. Or something.

Cate Byers, for editing, mentoring, and telling me the book was funny as hell at a time when I really needed that. You made this thing so much better.

Katy Snyder, for car theft, love, adventure, and for being the mom I channel when things get crazy.

Michael and Dafna Michaelson Jenet and the rest of the JI Press writing group where people said, Good job!

Brianna Titone, for representation, catching pronoun errors, and facilitating critical connections.

And last but not least, Noodles & Company, for being the weirdest place to get another kid ever, as well as for all the garlic bread.

FOREWORD

by Brian Kennedy

There should be a massive difference between the consequences of substantial efforts aimed at righting wrongs and honoring commitments and the consequences of lame gestures via social media. Somewhere Under The Rainbow was actually made possible by one rather lame text message I wrote while riding the bus to the airport.

This message, one of many written on that fateful bus ride, was generated by an exhausted mind, seeking distractions from the burdens of work obligations. The message was sent with just a glimmer of hope that increased connection between one old friend and her family and one new friend, who had recently met in my home at a graduation party, might be good Well, it is fair to say that the life-altering chain reaction that followed delivery of this message occurred at blinding speed and is still racing into a previously unimaginable future, and all of that was mighty good.

This chain reaction is at the heart of this book, but the kindnesses that preceded the lame text message and occurred thereafter are where the primary lessons can be learned and applied. This book is about the importance of every kindness and the healing power of laughter stuffed into the face of pain, fear, doubt, and uncertainty.

This book is not about lies and deception. This book is about the type of bonding between people that can occur when understanding and acceptance are front and center, allowing for lightheartedness even when looking back at a wide range of events that should never have occurred.

To know Kelly is to love Kelly. In fact, to really know someone is to understand and accept them, even if they are goofy as hell and would bite the head off someone who would harm a child. To know Daniel, now that is an entirely different matter. If you know Daniel, you are in an elite group. He stands firmly where his intellect and commitments place him and if you are patient and your own biases dont get in the way, he will open up and you will find him to be extremely intelligent, curious, eager to share ideas and remarkably fun. This introverted Ph.D. and extraordinary athlete is an inspiring and powerful counterpart to Kellys often hilarious commentary and take no prisoners approach to righting wrongs.

When Kelly met Jayce, she certainly recognized goofy. She also saw an abundance of joy and creativity, his longing for connection and untapped potential. Underneath his exterior, Kelly recognized something raw and hurting. Somewhere Under The Rainbow is the story of the love between a fierce Mama Bear and an injured cub and how they find ways to joke their way through some serious stuff and some not so serious stuff.

Life would be simple if people were all the same. It would also be as boring as hell. The characters in this story are unusual folk, in the best possible ways. This family has an amazing capacity to love and give to all around them. As you read this book, imagine your own resilience under these circumstances, and think about what you might do.

These parents right wrongs and fulfill honorable commitments. They love unconditionally and act accordingly. They are also as funny as hell. Jayce and his story affirm our hopes and dreams that people care, heal, and respond well to kindness and the right type of silliness.

Brian Kennedy

Chapter 1

Meet the Prices

Thank you for joining us on this crazy journey.

Disclaimer: This book is not actually a guide to much of anything. There are going to be some tips, tricks and thoughts sprinkled throughout, but the main purpose Jayce and I had in telling our story was to entertain. Maybe the ideas in here will make you more comfortable with the trans community, who after all, are just people. Maybe youre parenting, supporting, or mentoring a trans kid yourself and need some ideas or need to feel like youre connected to a bigger community and are not alone. Maybe you ARE a trans kid living with the physical, psychological, and social ramifications of being transgender in todays society and you just want to be able to laugh about life a little bit with someone who is there with you. Were game. Well walk the road with you and listen to your thoughts about your own journeys and provide a little camaraderie for you, or shed a little light on the realities of day to day life as a trans guy (or in my case as the parent of a trans guy.) Well also make you laugh.