I came out to my dad this weekend.

I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened.

Let’s start at the beginning.

My parents split up a few years ago. I still don’t know the whole story. I got bits and pieces from the family he had before it happened at the wedding, and I get the basic gist, but it’s obvious there are huge gaps in my knowledge. I’m not sure it matters. They’re split and he’s found someone new.

Early this year, they invited us to their wedding. We knew it would cost a lot of money, and both of us were extremely apprehensive. There are some painful memories, and emotions and opinions I haven’t discussed with my family, so we expected being in a room full of them to be awkward at best. Add to that the fact that we were meeting my niece and stepfamily for the first time ever and I was a nervous wreck.

I guess I forgot the power of family for some is far stronger than any possible bad blood or despicable past.

We touched down in Texas and steeled ourselves for the hour (or so) drive to New Mexico. It went off without a hitch. We gabbed like we’d just seen each other yesterday (minus the whole lot of things we’d missed in each other’s lives), and laughed, and had fun. Dad bought me my first Rt 44 Sonic Cherry Limeade. Holy shit are they humongous. And delicious! And then we were at Dad’s and I played with my niece for the first time ever.

Not long after we got to Dad’s the photographer showed up. She didn’t take pictures that night. We all just sat and talked like old friends even though none of us had ever met her. We ate together and after dinner I snuggled up on the couch with my sister and got her set up with an account on EdenFantasys.

Somehow the subject made its way to the LGBT crowd. Maybe we were discussing my writing for SexIs or something. And I just blurted out, without even thinking about the fact that only my sister and M knew, “I’m bisexual.”

Oops.

It wasn’t even awkward. I’m not sure Dad even heard. We just kept talking like this was everyday conversation, all of us oblivious to whether or not my father was comfortable with the discussion.

Shortly after, we crashed. After three planes and two time zones we were zonked.

I’d like to say the wedding went off without a hitch, but in true [insert family name here] form, you know a few things went wrong. Like the septic tank being so full we had to send a family friend over to clean it out as the reception drew to a close, and Dad’s back bothering him. However, we had such a great time at the ceremony and reception we all put it to the backs of our minds till Dad refused to let anyone help him clean up the mess.

I didn’t have to come out about my job. Everyone already knew! And they all think it’s fantastic! Imagine my surprise.

M had to take a shower at my stepsister’s house. We’d yet to meet them and M’s just as shy as I am. Not to mention, we’re both fully acclimated to this depressing city we live in, and expected everyone to be jerks simply because we’re strangers. And I was staying at Dad’s to finish getting ready. Neither of us was expecting the shower trip to go well. M’s just not good at opening up to strangers, and we’re used to everyone around us being the same way.

M still marvels at how awesome my new big brother was that day. Even tried to feed M the second he got out of the shower. You just don’t see people as awesome as the family we inherited around here.

So I’ve got a new stepmom, stepsister and brother-in-law. They all know what I do for a living, and they’re completely accepting. And with them came the awesomest niece and nephew a person could ever have. Well-behaved, thoughtful, always ready to lend a hand. M and I felt incredibly welcome and loved among literal strangers and it was amazing. We’re already planning another trip. And the plans I’d made to have a kinky vow renewal for our tenth wedding anniversary have been vetoed. M wants Dad and our new family there.

Who could ask for anything more? Life is awesome.

(P.S. That picture up there is one M took on the trip to Albuquerque. About 150 miles of nothing minus that train and a few ranches.)

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