At 5:45 a.m. on the cold morning of December 25th, it was still dark outside as I stood in the kitchen brewing coffee.
When I walked into the glass sunroom and sat down, wearing only my Christmas robe and houseshoes, I looked out and realized no one had turned off the red lights in the pool. The wind was blowing, making the water have waves, and the red in the pool glowed brightly in the dark.
I sat back after adding Baileys to my large Santa Clause mug of coffee and reflected on what had happened last night.
I can still see the replay in my memory very plainly.
We were all gathered here, at our home. My four children, three of them with spouses, one with a new boyfriend she met during a holiday shopping trip, and all eight grandchildren, a baby mama to be that a grandson knocked up and the mother-in-law to my oldest son, and the sister to my youngest sons wife, along with a chubby Japanese exchange student, and call it what it was; a house full.
Tammy was in her element. She is, after all, the perfect host. Of course, thank goodness the Country Club has an excellent catering service, but that isn't the point.
Our very large home was, and still is, decorated in a beautiful Christmas flare, and the music of the season could be heard in every room.
After a fantastic meal, as we all continued to gather around the dining room table, which had the extra leafs in it, as chit chat continued, Tyler said, and I quote,
"I have something I would like to say. I have wanted to tell everyone for a long time, but I don't know; I just wasn't sure how and when the time would be right."
At the head of the table, I leaned back, picked up my glass of Wellers and Water, and braced myself, for I knew what the announcement would be.
Tyler had their attention. All eyes were on him. And he knew he had to continue, so he did. "For a while now, I have been struggling with my identity, you know, discovering just who I am and what I want to do with my life, and well, who I want to be. And I have found out. Well, I found out something anyway."
There was an uncomfortable pause. Tyler looked down at his plate, then back up, and around.
Tammy, being the loving grandmother she is, said, "Tyler, just tell us what you have to say. Is it college? Have you chosen what you want to major in? Have you chosen a path for your life?"
Tyler said, "I have always wanted to be a graphic designer, and my major isn't changing. But I have changed. I am gay, and I have chosen to live a gay lifestyle."
No one said anything for a minute or two, and then Melissa said, "What is a gay lifestyle? So you're gay. I'm glad you finally realized that because we've all known it for years! But 'lifestyle'" she said using air quotes "what exactly do you mean by that? Because it is just living, honey."