A Christmas Twist

So ok… I’m back.

But probably only for a little while.

And boy have I had a lot go on since the last time I posted!!

I moved in with the bf in early July though I had basically been there 90% of the time in June. There’s just something sweet about lying in bed with the person you love each night with our arms wrapped around each other. It’s really nice. He’s deemed me the housewife though since I do most of the cleaning and stuff. We’ve had so much fun together!

Christmas time rolls around and I started reminiscing about old Christmases and asking the bf if he was going to put a tree up. No. One day, he decided he needed to go pick up some Christmas stuff to decorate the place where he works (they go all out there for Christmas) and he wanted me to tag along too. So I went with him. He looked at the trees and couldn’t find what he wanted then asked me to help him pick out some ornaments and other little things. We go to check out and I asked him something about where he was going to put all of this where he works. He smiled and said it was for the house. =) We went somewhere else and finally found the right tree.

Christmas brought more surprises than that. On Christmas eve, I went to my parents to have our whole Christmas deal. My brother was there and we ate and opened our gifts. Then, my parents and I went to my grandparents’ house. They were having the entire family there on Christmas day for lunch and my mamaw was begging me to come. However, I had already promised the bf that I was going to spend Christmas day with him. I told my mamaw I wasn’t sure if I was going to come. She saw right through that.

On the evening of Christmas eve, we went out to eat with the bf’s boss and his family. During our little dinner, my cell phone rings. It’s my mom. I answer and she’s crying about how she thought I felt bad because I didn’t get them as much as my brother did (who has a full time, well-paying job while I’m only part-timing it). I had jokingly said something about it earlier. I didn’t care. I swear she takes things too seriously.

Anyway, she stops crying and tells me she really would like it if I would come down the next day for Christmas. I roll my eyes. She knows I’m not coming and she knows why. But she pauses and these are the words I hear – “you know we don’t approve of all of this but if you want to, you can bring [the bf] with you tomorrow.” I nearly went into shock!! Are these the same people who threatened to shot him if I brought him down there?! Can’t be. Just can’t.

I asked her if she was sure it was ok. She said that it was. I left it open at the time as to whether or not we would come, but she knew what was going to happen.

I got off the phone, just looked at the bf and told him he would never believe what just happened. He asked if something was wrong. I simply said “they said you could come tomorrow.” He looked just as shocked as I probably did. Without missing a beat, he said ok and that he’ll go. He later told me he knew something was up just from the look on my face while I was on the phone. He had made plans to cook some stuff the next day but he quickly forgot about all of that. He knew this was what I had been wanting for a long time but had pretty much come to terms with it not happening anytime soon. He was fully supportive of this and even told me that we were going when I said something about maybe not going. I was honestly afraid this would be a huge clash.

We got up bright and early Christmas day and got ready. He asked if I was nervous. I wasn’t near as nervous as I thought I would be. Then we headed out. It was about a 45 minute drive. He was getting a little nervous the closer we got. He wouldn’t admit it but I could tell. We got there and parked. The entire family… well on my dad’s side. I still couldn’t believe it. That’s awfully brave of them to meet the bf for the first time in front of the entire family. Wow! I’m still shocked about it!

We walk down to the little house where my family usually has get-togethers. The blinds are open. I’m sure my parents have had their eyes pilled to the windows to see when we got there and get their first glimpse of him. I get to the door and put my hand on the knob. I’m not nervous. I turn to the bf and ask him if he’s ready. He smiles big and nods his head yes. I sling the door open and everyone’s eyes gravitate toward us. They all know who was walking in. They all know I’m gay by now and I’m sure they all knew my bf was coming with me. I quickly scan the room to find my targets. There’s my mamaw smiling as big as she can and running over to give both of us a hug. I think she even called him by name. My mom is standing just to our right behind the bar. I throw her a huge smile and introduce her to the bf. I bet her heart was pounding out of her chest! They shake hands and she quickly moves away. Next up is my dad. He’s sitting playing dominoes. He looks up at us and I introduce him to the bf. He just about shit his pants! His hand was shaking when he reached out to shake the bf’s hand and his voice was quivering when he spoke. Ouch! Uncomfortable…

I introduce him to a few other people and we sit down at the end of a table where my mom and a few of my aunts and uncles were playing Skip-Bo. As we watched them play and I explain the rules to the bf, more of the family files in. No one asked who the intruder is. They all know who he is and who he’s with. After a while, we eat lunch and my parents keep their distance. As the day progressed and we all pitched in to clean up after lunch, my parents are forced to interact with him a little more. The few in the family that hung around to clean up (the eat-n-runs had already left) migrated up to my grandparents house to gather in their living room. My parents have warmed up to the bf and actually carry on a semi-normal conversation with him!

All said and done, we ended up staying there longer than my parents did. My papaw fell in love with the bf. My mamaw was happy because I came down for Christmas (and I think she was happy to meet the bf too). And we went home with a bag or two (or maybe even three) of frozen catfish. Yep.

I have to give it to my parents for stepping up and surprising the shit out of me for Christmas. I know it took courage on their part to meet him just like it took courage for me to come out to them. They handled it all good I guess. And no explosions! I knew they were uncomfortable around him and just didn’t know what to say. I think they were expecting someone totally different. Someone older looking and more feminine. He’s not that way though. I’m just surprised it even happened! I think there was a small motivating force behind the unexpected invitation though. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out what that force may have been. =)

So Christmas had its own little surprises this year for me! It’ll definitely go down as one of the more memorable Christmases not because it was eventful but because it was monumental. That’s one small step for me, one giant leap for my parents.

But they don’t know the can of worms they just opened up. They’ve met him… now they have no excuses.

In other news, I shocked everyone by getting all As this semester. My parents were eagerly awaiting my grades this semester, hoping they would have gone down so they could hang that over my head about moving out. Sorry. This is the first semester since I started college that I’ve made all As. Ouch.

Damn this has been long! Oh well, I’m getting tired of typing. Who knows when I’ll post something else! Till then! Later.