It seams such a long time ago when I think about it but reallity in fact only close to 4 years ago when I "came out" properly, losing some friends along the way, most valuable being some expats. An incredible time followed with an amazing amount of acceptance being found along the way. One couple who were very close friends were stunned and taken aback by my revalation and at that time I did feel a bit unwanted. Then the pandemic hit and nobody here could go anywhere, visit friends and so forth. This is the first Christmas since then that I have been able to do the rounds of my locals giving them each a small Christmas gift and card. One couple i visited just today, the husband, worked in Customs and excise in the UK around the time I was still working as a Police photographer;
One thing I vowed to do was to never enforce my dressing on anybody especially if they had been friends and were still, but still coming to terms with the " new me" having previously only seen the old "Bob". This couple only just this afternoon when i visited them with a gift and card, i had a lovely chat with them, had coffee laced with a shot of whisky "yummy" and spent maybe a couple of hours with them.
Afterwards I visited a couple more of my neighbours and came back home. Later in my inbox was a message from the expat couple,basically telling me " we don't give a shit what you wear, it was nice to chat with you again after such a long time, we enjoyed your company and you must visit again any time, dressed how you please"
Well what can one say!! a huge sigh of happiness has passed over me because they were the ones who helped me through my divorce and a whole pile of other things. So once again I have succceeded with something which often fails in other ways, except in this particular case, what i felt was not total acceptance has completely turned round and sort of reeled me back into the friendship so to speak.
In a way a very nice little Christmas gift, I am so happy.
