Like breathing for the first time…

Tonight I spent the evening with Anthony.  He was the coordinator for Camp fYrefly two years ago, so he’s definitely going to be my right hand man for the next six months. This job means so much to me, in so very many ways…  and having a guy like Anthony by my side is only going to make it that much better.

I haven’t felt that lighthearted and that quickly connected with someone in a very long time.  It was honestly like breathing for the first time.  We just instantly seemed to accept one another as we were, for who each of us is.  No expectations.  Just open and honest.  And by some twist of fate, we have SOOO much in common.  So many of the same drives, the same passions.  It really was awesome getting to know him.  I am so looking forward to our next tete a tete.

At one point, a couple hours into our evening, Anthony got really quiet.  And the tone became very serious.  He said to me, “I don’t want to offend you…  but…”  I was nervous about what might come next.  Questions and statements that follow something like that can be brutal, and slash a person to the core.  He finished, looking quizzical but open and honest, staring into my eyes as if searching, “…are you in a heterosexual relationship?”

I’m sure I broke out into the biggest, goofiest grin.  I laughed brightly as I answered in the affirmative.  And he grinned and laughed with me.

It felt so good to be accepted for who I am without anything about me or my sexual identity just being assumed.  Everywhere we go, people instantly judge us.  They make assumptions about who we are, how we  identify, making labels for us for their own convenience and security.  It was amazing to NOT have all that taken for granted, to just be allowed to be me without it mattering, with the question coming almost as an afterthought, yet with concern about how it would make me feel.

Anthony?  Tonight you affirmed for me all of the reasons I first wanted to apply for this position.  Thank you!

It’s amazing to find such a fast friend.  One you can open up to and share secrets with so very quickly.  And I believe I’ve found that in Anthony.  I look forward to many more evenings together with my right hand man.

Yay Camp fYrefly!