Not Quite a Norman Rockwell Christmas
Last night I attended a Christmas gathering with my girlfriend's family, an unusual holiday observance that included the traditional Christmas ham and gift exchanging, and the not-so-traditional divorced father and mother and the father's live-in boyfriend.
I was the intruder, of course, the newcomer trying to make himself comfortable amidst a sea of relative strangers, while at the same time acknowledging that the two other men in the room spoke with audible lisps that made the whole experience seem like a Saturday Night Live skit. "Hereth a prethent for Ryan. Ryan, thith oneth for you."
A funny thing about dating a girl with a gay father: rather than trying to make a good impression to validate my dating his daughter, I find myself wondering whether the father and his boyfriend think I'm cute. I figure, if they think I'm cute, I've already won them over. Rather than sitting across from a stern father sipping cognac ready to grill me with a series of tough questions, I can defuse the situation by wearing tight pants and a tight tee shirt.
Despite the surreal feel, I really did enjoy myself, and everyone went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, and the meal was quite delicious. I received far more gifts than I really should have, and I felt a pang of guilt that I didn't buy more for everyone else, even though I had no way of knowing that I was going to receive even one gift, let alone several.
Gift opening was followed with a strange silence, save for the television broadcasting Third Watch followed by Crossing Jordan, two shows that really didn't seem to mesh with the festive holiday season. Somehow a show about sexual assault followed by a show featuring a coroner just doesn't leave one with Jingle Bells ringing in the ears.
Come 10 p.m., my girlfriend and I took our leave, and we went to Applebees for a couple of drinks, followed by a return home for some, ah, additional holiday cheer. No, it wasn't traditional, but what constitutes tradtional nowadays anyway?
Here's hoping that all who read this enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday season. I'm off to Hawaii in a couple of days, where I may or may not find the time and means by which to blog.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years to you all.
Posted by Ryan at December 24, 2002 11:35 AM
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