My cousin and another good friend took my wife, son and me out to dinner tonight. After eating we got away from the others for a few minutes and stepped outside to talk. He had read my email, and said he can't fully grasp how difficult it must be to come out after so many years, and that he fully supports me. So the email, and what he knows about me will be kept in confidence. I'm so surpised that he already decided how to respond to any questions that he gets in the future, and he only wants to say "Unless we live through what Joe is living through now, we'll never understand." He said he can't imagine how he would deal with the way my life will change, and hopes for the best, but he knows it's going to go very badly in Michigan. We talked a short time longer, and everything he said was honest but supportive. I was almost crying, but he chuckled and said it was too cold outside for either of us to cry. So we both laughed instead, hugged, and returned to the restaurant.
I already thought he was a fantastic friend and relative, but tonight I found out he's the most wonderful and loving person I've ever kown.
So even though he can't read this. Thank you my dear cousin, I love you.
Kathy
