Summer's end

[twillthrill]

I feel older; I told my parents about Joe, and splayed everything in the open to my Mom and my sisters, of my homosexuality and of my relationship with Joe. It wasn't a coming out, since it was old news, but an end to unspoken awkwardness simmering beneath the surface: a dialogue ensued. It is as if I am a peer of my parents now, discussing Joe over beer, discussing gay marriage with my stepmom. It is all a little odd and surreal to me, but comforting that now I can be a little more honest with my family, and share a little more of the life I lead in Savannah.

I sparred with my Dad about politics: we couldn't be more divided. He is a staunch republican, I, of course, a staunch democrat, about as left as they come. On the drive back from the airport, where I picked him up after he attended a Swiftboat Veterans anti-Kerry march in D.C., we got in a heated argument about Kerry's war record, Bush's environmental policies, etcetera. My Dad is so belligerent, it makes me really, really angry. He can't bear to tolerate a shred of information contrary to his own. He is such an exaggeration of a republican it is both funny and horrifying.

I have been tempering an urge to remove my silly freshman-year nose ring; the battle between the adult in me and the rebellious in me has yet to be resolved.

I think I will wait.