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REP

(21,691 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:03 PM Mar 2013

I just got a letter today from my Aunts

It was just the usual chatty letter, with pictures of their cats and dog they took and printed with the camera and printer we sent them - nothing political, except my Aunts are a couple in their 80s who have been together longer than I've been alive.

When I hear homophobes gasp about "the gay lifestyle!!11," I think of this couple; one an engineer and the other, a telecom worker (both retired now); their modest yet pretty little house; how much they love animals; how one loves loves loves gadgets as I do, and the other who loves the kind of work I'm doing on our house - but mostly how incredibly, quietly and stubbornly brave these two women are and how nothing has diminished their devotion to each other. They are no 'threat' to my (or anyone's) marriage; they are role models, and not just for a long, strong marriage, but for being courageous, kind, smart, funny and all-around great.

I really admire courage - the hard kind, of going on even through the most difficult circumstances. I think that all GLBT people show this type of courage - quietly, with dignity, and every day - which makes them some of the bravest people on earth.

Just like my 80+ year old aunts.

And I hope that very soon, just living life won't require that kind of strength every day.

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I just got a letter today from my Aunts (Original Post) REP Mar 2013 OP
Thak you, REP, for sharing Control-Z Mar 2013 #1
I was blessed with remarkable Aunts REP Mar 2013 #6
I agree. I hope this happens soon. PDJane Mar 2013 #2
Tomorrow would be nice ... :-) REP Mar 2013 #15
For all in the LGBT community, but especially Lifelong Protester Mar 2013 #3
Every single person deserves it, period! REP Mar 2013 #13
your aunties sound wonderful NJCher Mar 2013 #4
The thing is ... REP Mar 2013 #9
thank you for sharing your amazing aunts with us--they sound like exactly the kind of people niyad Mar 2013 #5
I think they're the kind of neighbors anyone would want REP Mar 2013 #12
Thanks for sharing n/t joesdaughter Mar 2013 #7
K&R thank you for sharing. All the best to them, their pets and you. idwiyo Mar 2013 #8
Thanks! REP Mar 2013 #10
Aw REP, you made me smile Hekate Mar 2013 #11
Aw, thanks! REP Mar 2013 #14
Lovin' it, y'all go girls trocar Mar 2013 #21
Kick! Heidi Mar 2013 #16
Spleen! REP Mar 2013 #17
I can't help but believe those cool aunts of yours Heidi Mar 2013 #19
Huge K&R!!! n/t OneGrassRoot Mar 2013 #18
So many wonderful aunties and uncles out there. nolabear Mar 2013 #20
beautifully said! BlancheSplanchnik Mar 2013 #22
Your aunts sound like Helen Reddy Mar 2013 #23
kick & recommended. William769 Mar 2013 #24
Yeah... that ol' gay lifestyle... pauljulian Mar 2013 #25
K and R hrmjustin Mar 2013 #26
Shhhh you've just auntsue Mar 2013 #27
How dare you! Enjoy your life in peace? Harrumph! REP Mar 2013 #29
That does my heart good. Thanks! K & R paleotn Mar 2013 #28

REP

(21,691 posts)
6. I was blessed with remarkable Aunts
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:29 PM
Mar 2013

My maternal Aunt was an amazing woman in her own right; she had other things to overcome (a northern Catholic convert married into a very old Southern Jewish family in the 50s). She was first chair viola with the Charleston Philharmonic and had wonderful stories (including the time they managed to set the symphony hall on fire during a performance of the 1812 Overture). Like they do to me, inanimate objects often attacked her for no good reason. We both loved old first editions, even - or especially - not particularly rare or valuable ones. She died 12 years ago, and I still find myself thinking, "I should send this to H! She'd love it! Oh." I miss her.

These two Aunts are my husband's, but I have their permission to claim them as mine as well One thing cramping an Aunt's "gay lifestyle" - she has to give up knitting for a bit due to bursitis, but on the other hand, it'll give her more time to read. Pretty decadent stuff!

Lifelong Protester

(8,421 posts)
3. For all in the LGBT community, but especially
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:09 PM
Mar 2013

for the 'oldsters'. They deserve to be treated with dignity, and spend their remaining years in whatever union (if that includes marriage) they want.

REP

(21,691 posts)
13. Every single person deserves it, period!
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:23 AM
Mar 2013

Life can be hard enough without being made to live in a way that makes who you are a burden to you. And yes, I'm pretty sure we agree on that!

REP

(21,691 posts)
9. The thing is ...
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:36 PM
Mar 2013

... in many ways, they're just ordinary folks. Things like their love of animals makes them special and wonderful, and any couple having such a successful relationship is, well, hopeful to anyone in a relationship! But their day-to-day lives aren't that much different from their neighbors, yet for their entire lives, and lives together, they've had to steel themselves for the ugliness that gets thrown too often at nice, hardworking couples like them just because they're both women. It makes me in awe of their courage, and sad that they've had to be so brave every day just to be who they are: a nice quiet hardworking couple.

niyad

(112,432 posts)
5. thank you for sharing your amazing aunts with us--they sound like exactly the kind of people
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 10:26 PM
Mar 2013

I love meeting and knowing.

REP

(21,691 posts)
12. I think they're the kind of neighbors anyone would want
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 03:12 AM
Mar 2013

And their kitties and doggie are just adorable!

Heidi

(58,237 posts)
19. I can't help but believe those cool aunts of yours
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 07:41 AM
Mar 2013

had a hand in how cool you are, lil Miz SPLEEN!!!

pauljulian

(45 posts)
25. Yeah... that ol' gay lifestyle...
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 08:04 PM
Mar 2013

Get up, feed the dogs, have breakfast, go to work... how dare they! <grin>

auntsue

(277 posts)
27. Shhhh you've just
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 08:16 PM
Mar 2013

given away the secret gay agenda. Now everyone will know.........we just want to live our lives!!!!

REP

(21,691 posts)
29. How dare you! Enjoy your life in peace? Harrumph!
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 09:44 PM
Mar 2013

I was a really naïve kid, even by naïve kid standards. I thought the 'I Have A Dream' speech, especially judging people by the content of their character, was an agreed-upon goal that everyone was trying to achieve. I was so mad when reality dawned on me (I was a really, really naïve kid).

But I never really gave up on hoping that it was goal we can achieve.

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