Counting our blessings.........

[Mrs Erocse]

Good Morning!

     I want to share this family treasure with all of you. When we were outed, Erocse went to S. CA. to  see his family and talk with them. Our hearts were broken and the stress was overflowing. I was feeling really down. I wanted to talk with someone. I decided to talk to my sister. I called her on the phone. It was early morning. I told her she needed to get her coffee and cigarette and sit down. I had a story to tell. I told her Erocses and my story. The first thing out of her mouth was, "You two are a perfect couple, you ARE staying together." Then, "The first time I ever saw Erocse I thought he was Love." She was very encouraging, accepting and supportive. I was grateful and felt much, much, better. (We are going to her house for Thanksgiving this year.)

     My Brother was a different story....He lives in So. CA near Erocse's family and my Mom. He even works with one of Erocse's brothers. When Erocse went to see her family, she arranged to talk with my brother as well. (We did not know if he had been told. I even suspected that possibly he was the one who sent the email to Erocse's brothers.) Well the meeting with my brother did not pan out. We were not sure why and were very dissapointed. None of Erocse's family would give her the time of day with the exception of her parents. (at the time, that seemed more hopeful).
Weeks have gone by and Erocse's family has been so cowardly and offensive.

I finally got the courage to call my brother. He was kind and very supportive. He said Erocse's brother had not told him, that he did not know anything about it. He was sorry too that he was not able to meet with Erocse when she had gone down. I was flattered that he was offended as well at the cowardly response Erocse's family has given. He said, "It was NONE OF THIER D*MN BUISNESS!! If Erocse and you are  happy what does it matter?" He told me how much our family meant to him and that he loves us.

     We are very thankful & appreciative of their love. We are very thankful of our daughter's love. We are very thankful and appreciative of all of you here on Suzan's.  We are counting our blessings this Thanksgiving! You all are right at the top of the list.

Happy Thanksgiving and Many Thanks.
~Mrs Erocse~

[bethw]

Happy Thanksgiving to two of the nicest people I have ever met online. May you both continue to find peace and happiness together. I just wish poeple could understand us better.
Hugs to both of you.
Beth.

[JoanneTV]

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you.

[JessicaH]

Thank both of you so much for sharing this part of your lives with us here. Your story is inspiring to myself and I'm sure to many others here. You are a wonderful person to stand by Erocse and to continue giving her the love and support that you swore to when you said your wedding vows.

Thanks again for sharing and please know that your story means a lot to some people!

[Lacey Lynne]

When I count my Thanksgiving blessings, knowing Erocse and Ms. Erocse is up near the top of the list.  That's the God's honest truth.  What a happy day it will be when I finally get to meet these two wonderful people live and in person. 

Happy Thanksgiving!       Lacey Lynne

[Janet_Girl]

I have been an orphan for 5 years now.  I lost Dad in 2005 and Mom in 2003.  My ex and I separated in 2008 and divorced in 2009.  My children live in other states and I have not seen them in a long time.

I have been unemployed since last year.  And I am struggling to just stay afloat.

But yet I am thankful.  I have lived the last two years as me, without any hiding.  I am slowly developing the body I should have had a long time ago.  And now I have a family that is over 4300 people.  I have friends that know the real me.  And I am still looking forward to 2011, when I shall graduate to full womanhood.

Happy Thanksgiving my Family and Friends.

[tekla]

The world famous American philosopher and man of letters Dr. Suess once said: Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.¹




1. Bernard Baruch in response to a question by Igor Cassini as to how he handled the seating arrangements at his dinner parties, as quoted in Shake Well Before Using: A New Collection of Impressions and Anecdotes Mostly Humorous (1948) by Bennett Cerf, p. 249; the full response was "I never bother about that. Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter." This anecdote is also quoted online at Chiasmus.com. It has also become part of a larger expression, which has been commonly attributed to Dr. Seuss, even in print, but without citation of a specific work: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

from wiki of some sort.

[Cindy]

"None of Erocse's family would give her the time of day with the exception of her parents. (at the time, that seemed more hopeful).
Weeks have gone by and Erocse's family has been so cowardly and offensive."

Is is sad that Erocse's family cannot find the humanity to accept her. What is it to them after all? She has been brave and sincere enough to travel to meet them, and then still be ignored. That is cowardly.

In Australia we do not have Thanks Giving, I realize that it is a big celebration for those of you over the pond.  I wish all of my USA friends and family a safe and happy Thanksgiving, particularly you two.

Cindy

[Mrs Erocse]

Thank  you all. It is 12:45 am and I cannot sleep. It has been a particularily hurtful day.

The world famous American philosopher and man of letters Dr. Suess once said: Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.¹

Thank you Tekla for bringing that to mind. I have heard and appreciated that quote before and you are quite right.

Thank  you, Stacy Beaumont, Lacey Lynne, Bethw, Janet Lynne, Joanne TV, Tekla and Cindy James you are all great and very kind people.

Have you all read Janet Lynne's very artful poetry? It made me blush today and smile. If you have not you all should 

[spacial]

This seems to be another example of an American tradition that the rest of us can only admire.

I wish every Susan's member, in N America, a happy Thanks giving.

(Even the name says it all really).

But Mrs. Ercose, please believe me when I say that, that will pass. You've both stopped playing pupperts for the pleasure of others.

[Mrs Erocse]

Thank you Spacial. Have a great week too.

[Mrs Erocse]

And now I have a family that is over 4300 people.  I have friends that know the real me.  And I am still looking forward to 2011, when I shall graduate to full womanhood.

Happy Thanksgiving my Family and Friends.

Janet we are part of your family. You are quite the Matriarch here, taking the lead in assisting all and giving your compassion and effection. Thank you for being who you are. We look forward to getting to know you better.   Congratulations on your progress toward total womanhood. That is something to be thankful for. 

[JessicaH]

You are such a caring and wonderful couple that it just makes me MAD to think of how hateful you two are being treated. It makes me want to kick off my heels and digg out the combat boots and kicking some butt!

As hateful as they may seem right now, don't loose hope. My mom had the same reaction with her Mormon family when she came out as lesbian after she divorced my dad. They were very ugly and kept their distance for a year or so but eventually their love of their sister endured longer than their prududice and ignorance.

It is a non issue now and they treat her VERY butch girl friend like a member of the family. It just takes some people longer to come to terms with things like this, especially if they have been institutionally brainwashed by the church to shun such things. If they ever had love in their heart, it will win out and they will come around but it will take a little time.

I have been thinking lately about how foreign the idea of not being happy with your born gender is, for most people. Most people can't even FATHOM not embracing their given gender so it just seems INSANE to them that someone would turn their world upside down to be the gender that they are inside. Many of us have even gone overboard to project an exxagerated image of what we think the world wants us to be, so it's even more of a surprise when you go from Airborne Ranger, mans man to high heels and all things feminine.

Hang in there and remember, "Living well is the best revenge."  Biggest huggs, Stacy Hightower

[tekla]

Tekla . . .  you are all great and very kind people.

Fooled 'ya.  IRL I'm what a friend once called 'ruthlessly polite' - and good manners can be misconstrued as being nice, but I look at it more like Ani DeFranco when she said "Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right."  If your looking for someone to say something nice, well, Nah, nah, nah it ain't me babe.  I get the phone calls or letters from people when they absolutely and positivity have to know that someone is telling them the truth.  It's like a recent thread where someone lost their job and everyone was dog-piling on 'supporting' the person and dissing the company, so it was left to me to have to write the post that basically said "Yeah, well given what you've said the only thing I could have added was I would have fired you even before they did."

[Lacey Lynne]

Janet we are part of your family. You are quite the Matriarch here, taking the lead in assisting all and giving your compassion and effection. Thank you for being who you are. We look forward to getting to know you better.   Congratulations on your progress toward total womanhood. That is something to be thankful for. 

Beautifully said, Mrs. Erocse. 

Don't mean to sound trite, but "Janet, we feel your pain!" ... as much as we can given the circumstances.

Okay, you're an orphan as you say.  However, you're ADOPTIVE FAMILY here loves you dearly, Babes! 

She ain't gonna spend Thanksgiving Day alone and bereft, folks.  THAT I can assure you ... No way!

Peace       Lacey

[Jacquelyn]

I am glad to hear that your brother and sister are being so supportive of you and Erocse!

As long as someone loves you and treats you well they should be happy for you, I'd expect no less of my siblings.

I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving! I know I plan to.

*hugs*