Gotta love 'em

The dance

When Kyle and Aiden were little they gave the best "Mommy!" hugs of the whole pre-school. Really. At 11:30 each morning I'd wait outside the school.  I'd get down on one knee and they'd hurtle out the doors, running into my arms. Later, when kindergarten started I was ousted--they were trying to figure out how to be cool in school--but in first, or certainly by second, they went back to rushing me, hugging me, almost knocking me down throughout their elementary school days. Those days were gone, but I still had my sweet grinning boys. Even last fall Kyle would walk by, squeeze my shoulders and say "Love ya, Mom!" I didn't know my days were numbered.

Pride part 2

Matt showed me the video below of Iz singing "Somewhere over the rainbow." I had never heard of him and was amazed by the video. I said "usually if a video showcases the singer versus other images, it's because the singer is gorgeous. Here we have a grossly overweight man singing sweetly." Janet came over to look. After a few moments she said, "He's proud of his body." I can't remember her exact words after that, but in grown-up speak it meant "it's obvious he's proud, see the way he carries himself." Hoping she learns this attitude.

OFFICIAL Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole

Pride and other meandering thoughts

There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package....Take me or leave me. Accept me--or walk away. --Stacey Charter

Janet's not there yet, as far as pride goes, but I saw a glimpse the other day. We were traveling north with many stops along the way, long stretches of highway between stops. Sometimes she'd listen to her music, other times get talkative. With her imagination the miles flew. She had seen a video of the Anne Frank story which prompted her flow of thoughts. I would have saved Anne Frank. I would have assassinated Hitler. I would have gotten there in time. Let's just say I was a soldier. She paused. Could women be soldiers? I answered that I wasn't sure, back then, maybe not. Well, that's okay, she said smugly, I'm trans! I'd go in as a spy, as a man, and kill Hitler! Then I'd come out and be a woman, and nobody would recognize me! This was the first time I've heard say call herself "trans" in a proud, even heroic way.