brichibiwritesthings:

I often wonder, at the holiday gatherings of my partner’s family, how I will be introduced. When I first moved up here back in 2006, I got the prestigious label of “roommate.“ We had our “coming out” visit before the move, and it was made abundantly clear that “the lesbians in the room" would not be addressed as such when others were around. Then, we ate Subway sandwiches and called it a wash.

When you hear stories of “coming out,“ you tend to hear two sides. The first being “acceptance” and the other being “flat out hatred.“ However, there’s a middle ground that isn’t always discussed, and that middle ground hurts just as much as “flat out hatred.” The fake smiles served at family dinners, the mashed potatoes combined with the “roommate" label, that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth while you eat Thanksgiving dinner with the “in-laws" you’re not supposed to acknowledge. 

Couldn’t I at least be a friend of their child? 

This gets more awkward when you realize that the rest of the family has honed in on the truth. Aunts and uncles who can read between the lines, cousins your age who are hip with the GLBT community, the younger brother who accepts you without a care in the world. But my partner’s mother and father still fought it, still denied it, and it became a thing to get use to every holiday. Always wear the roommate smile, that poor girl whose family don’t live in the area so she’s passing the gravy around at her not-family Christmas.

Then, something changed.

We decided to get a house close to two years ago. We saved up our money and found a house we liked. The downpayment, however, increased and we suddenly couldn’t afford it. But then, like some sort of suburban super woman, mother-in-law came through and gave us the rest of the money. Father-in-law appeared through the clouds next to her, with hammer and nails, fixing our kitchen and telling us about the wonderful world of appliances and counter tops. The change had been made in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, the roommate status was dropped.

But the feelings still linger.

I still wonder, when meeting the rest of the family and old friends of the in-laws, how will I be introduced. I still wonder what they think of me, if they’re proud of what I’m trying to accomplish, if they’re excited about the published works of a jobless girl who their daughter is in love with. 

I still wonder… until yesterday.

Yesterday was the 4th of July, and we went over to watch the fireworks at their new house. As the guests came in I held my breath, waiting for that introduction to ring through the air. And then, father-in-law said it.

“This is Briana. My daughter’s partner.”

And now, I don’t wonder anymore.

How I spent the fourth of July  :)

valkyria422:

draco-theever-malfoy:

I DONT CARE WHAT KIND OF BLOG YOU HAVE

EVERYONE NEEDS A DANCING FESTIVE CARLTON 

Is it sad I remember which episode this is?  Like the plot and everything?

Since I know that some people are going to go Black Friday shopping (and maybe even “Brown Thursday” which I will never ever like, I don’t care how you try to justify it to me, stores should be closed on the holiday, period, and that includes opening at midnight because that still means the employees have to work on Thanksgiving, they have to come in and get everything set up) 

Here’s some things I’d like you to keep in mind: 

1.  Be kind to the sales people.  A lot of them are sacrificing time with their family to sell you the things you want.  A lot of them don’t get a choice and are told what shifts they have to work, and have to work them for an incredible amount of hours.  At my old store, every single keyholder is working 12 hours, no matter what.  This is a very exhausting day for them, so please know that they are doing their best.  

2.  It’s not the salesperson’s fault.  It’s not their fault that the lines are so long and you have to sometimes wait half an hour, or longer.  It’s not their fault that they can’t get from behind the counter to help you, because there’s a ridiculous line they have to try and take care of.  And most importantly, it’s not their fault if the store is sold out of the thing you want.  Despite what some people may think, stores don’t come stocked with a million pieces of an item.  It would be nice, yes, if they have enough Wii Us and all that for everyone in the city, but they won’t.  And it’s not their fault.  So please don’t take it out on them.  Don’t yell at them, don’t complain about how long you’ve stood in line, don’t bitch about cutting time into your holiday to stand in line especially since these workers have cut time into their holiday to deal with your yelling.  Chances are, they’ll get more of that item, and you can come back.  And before you ask, no they cannot call another store to have them hold it for you, and that goes for any items on sale.  

This is the first time in seven years that I don’t have to work on Black Friday, and I’m going to enjoy it.  For those of you who have to work that day, just know that I feel for you, I’ve done that dance before, and I understand.