6 months!

Today Monday February 8th is the 6 month anniversary of the day I came out. I actually started coming out in April but really that was just me trying to find myself. Now that it has been 6 months I can't think of a better time than the present to share my coming out story. Saturday August 8th 2009 was the day I came out to my mom. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I remember the conversation and how I felt during the whole thing. This all happened within the span of only a few minutes.

It was about 10 in the morning and I was enjoying just laying in bed until my mom came in the room. I started to get really nervous because behind her on the wall were two posters. One of Kim Kardashian in lingerie and one of Miss Carribean Tan in a snake skin bikini. She sat on my bed next to me and told me that we had to get up and around because we had a family picnic later. The whole time I was praying that she wouldn't turn around because I wasn't sure if I was ready to have 'The Conversation' yet. It was just my luck that my mom turned around and saw said posters.

Mom: "Why do you have naked girls on your wall?"
ME: "Mom, they're not naked."
Mom: "Okay why do you have pictures of girls on your wall?"
Me: "Because I do."
Mom: "Do you like girls?"
Me: "Yes."
Mom: "Do you like boys?"
Me: "Nope."
Mom: "Not even a little bit?"
Me: "Nope and I never really have."
Mom: "Well, you know I'm okay with it. You just kind of surprised me."
Me: "Really?"
Mom: "Well yes. I didn't expect you to tell me something like that."
(Mom exits)
Me: "Did that really just happen? How could she not know?"

I then had to send texts to my two best friends who already knew. They were so excited that I finally told her. A couple nights later my now ex-bff AD was over and my mom asked her if she knew. She said yes. Then my mom started crying because apparently I can't have a wedding or wear her wedding dress. She has now been educated that I can have everything any other girl can have. She just won't be getting a son-in-law which apparently she looked forward to. I can see how she would be disappointed but in lieu of a son-in-law I am going to find her the most kick-ass daughter-in-law I can find. So there's my coming out story.

Here's a funny story that my mom told me yesterday. This little exchange happened Friday night.

My mom and dad were up at the Sportsmans' Club which serves as one of the two bars (yes two) in my tiny town. They were talking to an older couple who were telling them about their grandchildren. My mom was talking to the wife F about my brothers and I. Here's how their conversation went down.

F: So do you have any grandchildren?
Mom: No, F my kids are all still teenagers and I would only have to worry about my boys.
F: Well, don't you have a daughter?
M: Yes. She hasn't been exposed. (my mom's code for having sex with a boy)
F: Well, she still could.
M: No.
F: What do you mean?
M: F my daughter likes girls.
F: Girls? (she ponders for a little while)
M: Yes, F she likes girls.
F: You mean she's gay?!
M: Yes, she's gay.

Apparently after that little exchange F didn't say anything for the rest of the night. Now, we meet some pretty conservative people. Iowa is pretty progressive, I can get married legally here, but sometimes we get some back woods southern type folks. That's exactly who F and her husband were.