Persephone
01-14-2013, 04:48 PM
Most of us know the drill -- last kid picked for the teams, one of the favorites among the bullies, all the crap we went through growing up.
Who knows? Maybe it would have been the same if we'd grown up on the girl side?
I don't know, but I do know that after all the years of crawling out from the rocks I've begun to find some of those "Small Moments" that can make the difference.
This week had three examples that brought a lift to my spirits and very nearly tear to my eyes 'cause when they happen they just feel so damn good!
1. I was at a meeting of my women's spirituality group, about 20 of us (the other 19 were, to the best of my trained eye and knowledge, GG's, none of whom know I'm any different) crowded into someone's home.
Our hostesses' husband was there as well, although he didn't take part in the meeting but was around, probably because there was a table with snacks, and he was looking glum.
One of the women turned to me and said, "Poor guy. The only man in a room full of women."
Secretly, I smiled inside and thought, "Almost."
2. My son was taking some acquaintances out for dinner, people who had never met my spouse or me, and he invited his Mom and his "Aunt Barb" to come along.
His confidence in my abilities really made me feel great!
We spent the entire evening with the group, one more guy and two women, and there was never a flicker to indicate that anything was "unusual."
The next day I asked him if there were any comments and he said, "No. The only thing one of the women said was that she realized afterwards that she had gone on and on telling you one of her stories and she hoped she hadn't bored my Aunt."
3. My women's social group (different from the group mentioned above) has a monthly dinner get together. About 20 women attended this month and while many in that group do know that I have an "unusual past" they have become comfortable with me.
Every month we celebrate the Birthdays of the women who are there. This month I was the only Birthday woman there. I seriously had a tear in my eye as they had a Sundae with a Birthday candle brought for me and they all sang "Happy Birthday Dear Barbara" (for those who don't know, Barbara, not Persephone, is my name).
Vignettes of life.
Hugs,
Persephone.
Who knows? Maybe it would have been the same if we'd grown up on the girl side?
I don't know, but I do know that after all the years of crawling out from the rocks I've begun to find some of those "Small Moments" that can make the difference.
This week had three examples that brought a lift to my spirits and very nearly tear to my eyes 'cause when they happen they just feel so damn good!
1. I was at a meeting of my women's spirituality group, about 20 of us (the other 19 were, to the best of my trained eye and knowledge, GG's, none of whom know I'm any different) crowded into someone's home.
Our hostesses' husband was there as well, although he didn't take part in the meeting but was around, probably because there was a table with snacks, and he was looking glum.
One of the women turned to me and said, "Poor guy. The only man in a room full of women."
Secretly, I smiled inside and thought, "Almost."
2. My son was taking some acquaintances out for dinner, people who had never met my spouse or me, and he invited his Mom and his "Aunt Barb" to come along.
His confidence in my abilities really made me feel great!
We spent the entire evening with the group, one more guy and two women, and there was never a flicker to indicate that anything was "unusual."
The next day I asked him if there were any comments and he said, "No. The only thing one of the women said was that she realized afterwards that she had gone on and on telling you one of her stories and she hoped she hadn't bored my Aunt."
3. My women's social group (different from the group mentioned above) has a monthly dinner get together. About 20 women attended this month and while many in that group do know that I have an "unusual past" they have become comfortable with me.
Every month we celebrate the Birthdays of the women who are there. This month I was the only Birthday woman there. I seriously had a tear in my eye as they had a Sundae with a Birthday candle brought for me and they all sang "Happy Birthday Dear Barbara" (for those who don't know, Barbara, not Persephone, is my name).
Vignettes of life.
Hugs,
Persephone.