2006
Extended Family
The last month has been the hardest I have ever had to live through. My father has been diagnosed with lung cancer, which has spread to his liver and bones. He took his first chemotherapy treatment last Wednesday. Each day has turned into a gift. I see things differently and have found myself reevaluating my thoughts and how I have lived in the past.
The brightest thing that has been able to shine through all this darkness is my friends. Friends who have become a part of my family. My mom and dad have never had a problem or issue with my being gay. Because of that they have taken in many of my gay friend whose parents do not agree with their sexuality. My Dad is just not my Dad, he is a Dad to all of them as well.
I bitch about the drama. I say that I can’t stand the lesbian clique’s and all that they stand for. It makes me not want to go to pride or to the one lesbian bar we have that isn’t hours away. A few years ago I took on creating a lesbian online group. I ran it for 3 years, and at it’s peek it had over 1000 members. I had to stop, I couldn’t handle attempting to make everyone happy. I couldn’t handle the drama and the bullshit. The experience made me despise the same women I had worked so hard to bring together.
I’ve let all that bitterness go. Now I am thankful for the extended family that I have gained through it all. We become close because sometimes those that are supposed to love us no matter what don’t. We form bonds to replace those that we have lost along the way of letting the world know who we really are. I have acquired amazing friends along the way. I have gained a family that far surpasses the blood that flows through my veins. There is nothing like coming together and knowing that people are there for you. It’s unfortunate that sometimes it takes a tragedy to make that happen. But no matter what happens, it is a lesson I will never be able to thank them all enough. On behalf of my mom, brother, and dad, we couldn’t do this without them.
