Flibbertigibbet

They KNOW!!!

Well, my younger cousin, Cousin Booger, also found my MySpace page today and he sent me a friend request. At the moment he sent it, he didn't have a picture, so I didn't know who it was.

After he identified himself, we had the following email exchange.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Cousin Booger
Date: Jan 29, 2007 1:29 PM

so now dat cha know who you're talkin to, did you want to be my friend? You're profile revealed some things that hit me a little hard when I found out. The way I see it is it is your life and you don't have to feel wierd if you get around me. I still love ya because you are family and always will be.

At this point, I'm somewhat relieved because he's clearly going to be an adult about it. There's no telling what the rest of the family will think or do, but at least this one is hopeful.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Flibby
Date: Jan 29, 2007 1:33 PM

My parents specifically asked me not to tell anyone else in the family that I'm gay, but with the internet (Woohoo!) it's just not possible to keep something so significant a secret forever.

My opinion is just as yours: It's my life. You know I struggled with it for a long time but part of realizing that I am gay and stop trying to lie to myself about it. It means that I have to be honest and true to myself only. If other people have a problem with it, then it's their problem. My happiness is not contingent upon other people's approval. And I am very happy now.

I'm glad to hear that you don't have a problem with it. That is certainly not how my dad expected you to react.

- Flibby

But I wanted to make it clear to him, should he speak with anyone else, that their bad opinions matter little to me. I could have been more snotty and pointed out that because I haven't seen most of them in several years, their good opinions are also largely irrelevant, but I have manners.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Cousin Booger
Date: Jan 29, 2007 1:40 PM

Well I am a little wiser now than I used to be. I thaink that is the best part of growing up, you live and learn. Like I said, it is your life, so it doesn't matter if I am offended as long as you are happy with your decision I can't say anything that you don't already know. And I don't intend to!!!

Emphasis added.

Um. Offended? Why should HE be offended by MY homosexuality?

But don't let's make mountains out of mole hills here. He probably doesn't mean "offended." He probably means that he's not gay and probably thinks that it's a sin. That is something completely different.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Flibby
Date: Jan 29, 2007 1:43 PM

I'm also atheist. I forget that some people might get upset by that, too. Again, happy with that decision, too.

So, there you go.

If there is anything you want to ask me to understand better, please feel free. You know I'll be frank with you, particularly now that I don't have anything to hide.

- Flibby

Again, I'm being gracious. I really need to call my mom and let her know. I forgot to call her last week.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Cousin Booger
Date: Jan 29, 2007 1:49 PM

Like I said, I'm happy if you are happy. Besides to be honest with you I think that most of the family already had some speculations about the subject. I'm not sure if Uncle Jackass knows, but I don't plan on being the one that tells him.

Between us, I think Uncle Randal also suspects. He's not a complete jackass. Well, yes, he is, hence the name, but he's not a total idiot.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Flibby
Date: Jan 29, 2007 2:05 PM

I tend to think that if someone can't guess that I'm gay, then they probably aren't participating in reality like the rest of us.

I mean, come on. I'm not the butchest guy on the block. I haven't had a serious girlfriend.. ever. I don't talk about women in any sexual way. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do that math.

Even so, both my mom and dad asked that I not proactively tell people in the family. I don't care if other people know, but I think they are worried about that some may mistreat me or be rude in some way. Dad's side of the family, especially, isn't renown for its social graces or understanding.

I do appreciate that you are accepting of the fact and, as mentioned, if you're puzzled or concerned about it in any way, please let me know. I would be happy to explain things as well as I can in an effort to dispel some of the ridiculous and wrong ideas that some people have (and I even thought at one time) about what it means to be gay.

- Flibby

He couldn't discuss it further because he was at work. He said we'd chat again another time.

So, anyway, it looks like it's going well. But my parents will probably still freak.

Whatever. I just want to know what drama goes down so I can blog about it.