is there a ghost in my house

I'm in love with this man. His words. His voice. His music. Even the beard.

In the restaurant last night we had a mom and dad in with their young teenage son. He went to a local fancy pants boarding school. He was sweet and polite. And obviously gay. Or well on his way to being so. I suspect he already knew so. I'm so impressed with the world today that kids, although it must be incredibly hard, are able to come out as gay while they are still young. While they are going through those already rough years of teenship.

To me it speaks to a future that might be a little kindler and gentler.

As dinner was ending the conversation got a little intense. Mom and dad on one side of the table and tender-hearted son on the other. We overheard little snippets of conversation; "so do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"That's not my son."

As dessert was prepared we noticed young son crying. Dad waving his finger heatedly. Mom nodding in agreement. To be fair i really had no idea what was going on. But, i felt so sick inside. I wanted to pick up the young son. Save him from the torment in such a public place. I could feel the big ball in his throat. I could remember the identical feelings.

I was enraged. With no way to help. Instead i have just let it bother me for days.

Posted by Jess at 10:06 PM Permalink

Comments (4)

OMSH

Hey, I have that song memorized now and I had never heard it before. Not that THAT is saying much. haha

It is very smooth and easy to just flow with, isn't it?

About the dinner conversation - the "That's not my son." got to me. Ohh, that would have hurt my heart too.

Posted by OMSH | November 6, 2007 06:12 AM

Angi

I remember one of my first Pride marches, there was a girl who marched with our contingent and her mom marched with her. People kept coming up out of the crowd to shake her mom's hand. It really struck me. A simple show of support from a mother. This should be commonplace. This should be everyone's mother. But instead, it's so unusual that it stands out. So many of us lose our families when we come out.

My kids, growing up in Seattle in this decade, have experienced such a different world from what so many have and still do. Gay-Straight Alliance in school. Camp Ten Trees (affectionatly called "gay camp", the first of its kind anywhere). Lambert House for support groups, relationship skills classes, free dinners, games, hanging out. Peer acceptance. Not even having to "come out", really.

Yet we still have so far to go. For a marriage license my daughter had to cross the border, and of course it isn't recognized here. Not by the IRS, anyway, or Social Security.

I hope that kid's parents come to terms. They probably will. It takes time.

Posted by Angi | November 6, 2007 06:16 AM

Beth

I love Band of Horses too - especially the beard. The night of the show, after we met, I just kept saying to Tim, wow, Jess from Drowning in Kids just came up to me - she knew who I was! It was really crazy and good. I remember that night really fondly.
I've been reading, I know that this is a rough time for you. Take care of yourself the best you can, enjoy your new friends, your kids and those moments of clarity.
> Beth

Posted by Beth | November 6, 2007 01:34 PM

denise

Like the music but the dude?? Um no his teeth are gross.

Posted by denise | November 9, 2007 09:03 AM