I've been pretty blessed when it comes to an accepting family (Mom, Dad, Bro, and a handful of extended family). I come from a pretty big family, which I'd say 75% love/accept/really don't give a sht, I'm me. Always those few stragglers, who add everyone BUT you on FB, go out of their way to ignore you at family sht, whatever, not a big deal.
I'm interested in some old folk' stories. Both of my dads parents, are gone. My grandpa passed when I was 11. My mom set out a 'gender neutral" outfit for me to wear, I came down stairs in some green jeans, matching country western button down, and cowboy boots. My mom looked at me and said "Go put on what I laid out for you" to which I screamed at the TOP of my lungs "GRANDPA WOULDNT CARE WHAT I WORE!!!" She couldn't argue with that, I won that battle. I know he wouldn't of, as my dad told me stories of him cross dressing in my grandma's outfits to go watch him and my uncles play hockey as kids at the park. They told him not to come, cuz he always embarrassed them. To set the record straight, my grandpa wasn't a cross dresser, just on the weekends, to watch his kids, ha! That man had the best sense of humor even the best comedians couldn't grasp.
Anyways - my mother's, mother, my grandma, I've been close to since a wee one. She has only has 5 grandkids on her side, so has always tried to be extra close with us all. She was a 1st grade teacher, and I remember in grade school, when another teacher tried giving me a pink slip for running down the hall, I stopped her in her tracks when I said "I dunno if you know this, BUT MY GRANDMA IS MRS, *********!", got out of that one. My mom made me take summer school, just cuz my grandma taught it, and I didn't complain. She gave me trident original gum everyday, and brought me to Hardees everyday after school. Boy, do I miss those days.
I remember when I was 14/15 and the whole Transgendered issue came about, my mom approached the topic very lightly with my Grandma. I never understood why, cuz I knew, my grandma loved me no matter what. Granted, it seems a lot harder for the older generation to grasp, I wasn't surprised when she did tell my grandma, she was ok with it. My Grandma moved away to another state, my folks moved to another state, I moved, we all seperated for a while. I didn't talk to my Grams a lot for a few years, always got cards and bday gifts, but we didn't communicate a lot until the past few years.
She and my step Grandpa (the only Grandpa I've known since I was a kid) both were told when I started T (3 years ago). I'm 27 now, and had my name changed at 16, she also knew about that. They've never sent me gender Birthday cards, usually just the regular ol' Happy Birthday ones, but I got a "Happy Birthday Grandson" one last year. And when I talked to my Grandma, she made sure I knew, my Grandpa picked it out. He was also watching special programs on tv geared towards the Trans community, which I could do nothing but laugh. A good/happy/wish I could cry laugh.
I make it a point to call her a couple times a month, and for the 100 times she'll call me by my male name, she'll slip up and almost say my entire birth name, before correcting herself, and giggling. She is the ONLY person on the planet, I don't get mad at, for slipping up, she's 78, can't expect her to keep up all the time.
Now that I've drawn this out as far as I possibly could, I'll get to the best part of the post...
I called her this past week to thank her for my Xmas gifts, we bs'd for 20 minutes, then she went on to tell me how I can be, and do, anything in this world I want to. And then concluded with, "You know, if you wanted to join the service, you can now!" LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I seriously, had to hold it in. I would of broke her heart if I laughed. I don't except her to fully grasp who I AM, but I love her no matter what. When I hung up with her I couldn't help but call my mom. I told her "Grandma reminded me, if I wanted to join the service now, I can!" My mom about pissed herself laughing, "Oh bless her heart."
Funny side note - I'm having trouble finishing my FAFSA's because apparently I didn't register with the service between 18-25. I had recruiters calling me from 18-20 under my male name, asking me to join. I never came out and said "HEY SORRY BUDDY...!" I just simply stated I wasn't, or would never me interested. But for some reason, now I need to go fill out paperwork with the postal service.
