Old Folks at Home

Getting back to the whole parents thing...I felt guilty that I didn't give Chris and his parents much time alone, to talk as such. When I arrived Thursday night, his folks had arrived that afternoon, and Chris had several people over for dinner that night. When I got there, all of the dinner guests had just left.

By the time Sunday had come around, Chris and I had spent time with the parents and with friends, but I probably should have gone out for coffee or something to give them time. I tried to stay in Chris' room for a while, but they were busy packing, and Chris needed to get up early for one of the odd jobs he's been doing for the last little while. Monday morning came and Chris had already left for work and I saw the his parent's off, even giving them a better route to get back home. I shook his hand, and got a big hug from her, and an acknowledgment that their son had chosen pretty well.

How could I be more flattered than that? Really I stayed on top of my game. they asked me about my past, and my parents. I asked them about how Chris came out to them, and what their initial reaction was. I opened car doors and offered to pay for dinner, as you would expect, the doors were welcomed, the money was not, still, a guy's got to do what he can. The only time I guess I slipped is when his mom, asking about what you would associate with an opinionated woman. Guys, don't reply with Maude. Mother's do not like to be compared to Bea Arthur, apparently. She gave me a hard time about that answer. Luckily I drove.

So I definitely was trying to put my best self forward, but it wasn't like I has to be someone other than myself. This is a definite good thing. Certainly the image you're trying to project is different, but I would say the experience isn't too far off of what I've done at bear runs, trying to keep myself in the game, and not get scared away.

I think an interesting point is when Chris' mom asked me about my coming out, she truly was interested in what I had to say, and my slightly different perception of the whole coming out thing. I certainly was surprised that she would be interested, living in the much more open bay area, and already seeing her son out and all. I'm not sure if she was just trying to get my take, or I tell a good tale. Still, I was interested in her opinions and her tales of Chris growing up.

Somehow on Monday, I felt it was my duty to give them a proper sendoff, since their son couldn't be there. They would like us to visit them in California (they now live near Sacramento) sometime this summer. If our work schedules and bank accounts allow it, I do think it would be swell. I certainly want to go see a Giants game at Pac-Bell and see San Francisco.

Otherwise, most of the weekend's other moments were spent with my sister. Matty and Skye went with us to Laura's birthday party. We arrived too late of the surprise. I had to play in the snow, so that was part of why were were late, and that we spent a little longer at lunch than we had expected. The snowball fight was pretty fun, too, even warranting a second one as we left the party that was joined in by Laura's boyfriend Ed and our friend Seth.

Otherwise, we never did get away for a romantic Valentine's dinner or go out dancing. I was kind of hoping for the dancing, but hey, things just went in another direction, and that's the way it goes sometimes. Heck, one night we all got caught up watching Four Weddings and a Funeral, well, as Chris kept playing Metroid. It got so late that Chris' dad just went and got take out. It was just that kind of time. It still was an enjoyable weekend, and good to know that folks can be so cool. Somehow I won them over.

Eventually, I'll get around to letting Chris meet my folks...sometime after we land on Mars I suppose.