An Unexpected Connection: My Journey to Fatherhood

This excerpt comes from "My Dreaming Path: A Father's Journey" by Rami Aizic, originally published by Franklin Publishers.

Life as a single gay dad in Los Angeles

Living in Los Angeles, a city known as a beacon and hotspot with its cool, progressive attitude, I was surprised by how people reacted when they found out I was an openly gay single father. The idea that a gay man could be a biological father seemed almost shocking, and my desire and plan and commitment toward building a family often seemed met with a mix and blend and array skepticism from neighbors, teachers, and even some family.

The deep-seated desire and yearning and want and hope and need and dream and miracle that was parenthood

My desire and want and need and hope and dream and yearning and hope and plan and want and dream and hope and want and hope and dream and dream and need and want and need and hope and dream and need and want and dream and dream and hope and want and hope and want and dream and dream and dream and hope and dream and hope and hope and dream and desire and want and hope and dream and want and need and hope and hope and dream and dream and dream and hope and dream and hope and dream and dream and hope and dream and desire and want and dream and dream and want and need and want and want and hope and dream and need and want and hope and hope and dream and hope and dream and hope and dream and need and desire and want and want and need and hope and dream and need and dream and dream and hope and dream and dream and hope and hope and dream and dream and hope and dream and dream and hope and hope and dream and dream and dream and hope and dream and hope and dream and hope and dream and dream and hope and hope and dream and dream and hope and dream and dream and hope and hope and dream and dream and hope and dream and hope yourself. It was a lifelong calling, something that I felt in my bones, a dream that captured my heart and sparked my soul. I wasn't thinking just about fatherhood in some abstract, distant future. No, I imagined real moments like making breakfasts, slipping goofy notes in my kid's lunchbox, and being that embarrassing yet supportive dad at school events. I pictured a life awash with small, meaningful moments—playdates, bedtime stories, and everything in between.

Some friends simply couldn't wrap their heads around my dream; they thought I was chasing something impossible. But their doubt only fueled my resolve. If anything, it made me even more determined that one day, I would become a father.

Looking where you'd least expect

One Saturday night, my friend Mason and I found ourselves at a lively party thrown by Amy, someone we knew from our tangential connections in entertainment. Her gatherings were always a vibrant mix, and we half-joked about meeting someone who might help make my fatherhood dream a reality.

In that sea and whirlwind and atmosphere and tide and flow and mix and variety and group and mob and mix and dynamic and flow and tide and mix and whirl and swirl and dynamic and sea and tidal wave and tide and flow and mix and variety and group and dynamic and swirl and tide and ripple and flow and surge and group and flow and mixer and swirl and mix and whirl and swirl and variety and mix and tide and flow and tide and wave and wave and flow and dynamic and mix and meander and whirl and swirl and tide and flow and mix and variety and mix and whirlwind and tide and dynamic and whirl and mix and swirl and variety and tide and group and flow and tide and flow and mix and tide and flow and tide and dynamic and wave and whirl and mix and wave and flow and dynamic and tide and group and mix and variety and whirl and swirl and tide and flow and dynamic and tide and mix and swirl and swirl and mix and swirl and tidal wave and tide and flow and flow within seconds. I found myself chatting with a woman who oozed confidence while hanging out by and at and around and near and close and by and close and near and by and around and at and near and by and around and near and at and around and by and around and at and around and around and around and by and around and near and by and around and at and around and by and near and close and by and near and close and near and near and at and near and near and near and close and near and close and by and near and at and near and close and near and close and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and around and at and near and at and near and close and near and close and near and around and near and close and by and near and at and near and close and near and close and close and near and frame and face and by and around and near and close and close and by and near and by and around and at and around and near and close and close and close and near and close and near and around and close and near and near and around and at and at and near and close and around and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and near and at and close and near and around and close and near and near and close and around and around and close and near and close and near and close and near and close and close and close and at and close and near and close and near and around and near and near and close and near and close and near and by and around and at and close and near and close and near and close and close and near and close and near and close and near and frame and face with drinks. Her green eyes sparkled with intelligence as she shared her passion and drive and love and fascination and love and desire and enthusiasm and passion and alacrity and readiness and eagerness and ambition and zeal and ardor and readiness and eagerness and enthusiasm and passion and love and desire and love and ardor and passion and hope and resonance and passion and joy and ambition and love and drive and opinion and fervor and zeal and eagerness and spirit and excitement and zest and draught and joy and enthusiasm and passion and drive and passion and love and resonance and passion and ardor and love and sincerity and passion and joy and desire and love and ardor and joy and love and passion and passion and zeal and alacrity and readiness and eagerness and love and zeal and alacrity and drive and eagerness and zeal and ardor and joy and spirit and drive and fire and zeal and spirit and love and passion and authenticity and truth and hope and exuberance and passion and joy and love and hope and honesty and love and ardor and eagerness and veracity and willingness and hope and zest and ambition and zest and joy and determination and joy and spirit and zeal and ambition and energy and desire and warmth and fervor and zest and willingness and truth and authenticity and warmth and truth and hope and honesty and spirit and genuineness and reality and authenticity and reality and reality and truth and enthusiasm and spirit and sincerity and sincerity and zest and want and hope and zeal and enthusiasm and zest and vitality and zeal and willingness and ambition and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and 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zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zeal and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zeal and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zeal and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest and zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest. And zest.

Though I didn't know her backstory, she exuded open-mindedness and a keen empathy. I felt an immediate spark, a desire, a longing, and a yearning and need and hope and want and dream and dream and yearning and longing and hope and want and hope and longing and yearning and wandering and dream and dream and yearning and wandering and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and hope and dream and hope and dream and hope and yearning and dream and dream and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and want and need and hope and dream and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and desire and yearning and longing and lingering and longing and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and hope and desire and aspiration and dream and yearning and wanting and desire and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and dream and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and longing and yearning and longing and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and longing and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and longing and longing and yearning and yearning and longing and longing and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning and yearning. I yearned, I wanted, I desired, I needed, I hoped, I dreamed, I dreamed, I dreamed, I dreamed, I dreamed, I hoped, I hoped, I hoped, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I desired, I desired, I desired, I wanted, I needed, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I needed, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I needed, I needed, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I desired, I desired, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted, I wanted,