Off the record...

I actually had a completely different topic that I thought I was going to blog about today (temporarily delayed), but something interesting came up.  Thought I would share.  So, this whole "blogging" thing is new to me.  Don't really even know why I started, but just thought it would be fun.  It's my own way of letting my inner Chelsea Handler come out.  Over that past few days I have been kidding and joking with people about blogging about them, as an idle threat of retaliation, should they decide to be mean to me, disagree with me, annoy me, boycott my restaurant choice, etc...  (btw, Kathryn, I am NOT talking about YOU...YOU will be blogged about unmercifully in due time.  Kathryn is my oldest cousin on my Mother's side that lives in Vancouver, BC.  She's also a Facebook "creeper".  Doesn't use her real name, so people can't find her.)  OK, so back to my point...I have been telling everyone that I am going to blog about them.  Now, if you know me, you know that I will blog about you only out of love and that I will never blog more than you can handle (Jeff did almost die over the poop thing, but I KNEW deep down inside that he could handle it).  So out of the blue today, or yesterday, I get a message from someone that I had been chatting with, who completely FREAKS out and FORBIDS me to blog about them (note, I am even keeping their sex ambiguous)  It was weird...I mean...first of all, I know this person, but not THAT well..not even sure what I could say about them that anyone would even care to read about.  It was as if they were in Jr. High School, gay, and I was about to OUT them.  I mean...REALLY?  Maybe there's more that I don't know about...maybe they have a dark side...maybe I need to really look into it....nah...there's nothing.  If they are reading this, I don't want them to be upset (or I WILL blog about them publically...JUST KIDDING!!!  See that's me being funny...you gotta know me....)...so I don't want them to be upset, but at the same time...don't flatter yourself thinking that you're ALL THAT!  We ALL are ALL THAT in our own minds, but ....I guess growing up the son of a priest at a big church..my life was kind of like an open book.  You were not really allowed or given any privacy, and my Mom always used to say, "Don't do anything that you would be embarrassed about if anyone were to find out."  She was right.  As a kid I didn't really get what she meant, but as an adult, it all makes sense.  There was a time when I had secrets, or at least things that were private.  I can remember, before I came out, that people who knew "my secret" would hold it over my head and insinuate that they would "out" me if I did anything to cross them.  Case in point...my BEST FRIEND/SISTER (mentioned her in an earlier blog and explained the relation...go back and read if you need an update) Tina's EX brother-in-law.  Put simply he's a bully.  Well, to be fair, I haven't seen him in over 10 years, but he used to be a bully.  If you looked the word up in the dictionary...there was his picture.  So, he knew I was gay and he always threatened to tell Tina's Mom (of course her Mom was like my Mom...our Mom's were BEST FRIENDS, the ORIGINAL Thelma and Louise.  Her Mom disciplined me more as a child than my own Mom.  Put simply...I respect her and her opinion...and he knew that).  So one day Tina says to me, "Take the wind out of his sail.  Tell her...tell her before he does."  Best advice EVER (that's why I LOVE her...she always looks out for me and me for her).  REALLY, now I'm getting weepy..how did this go from being funny to all serious?  UGH!!!  Anyway...cliff notes version.....I tell her (her being Tina's Mom, Kas), she's good with it, I don't tell anyone that I've told her....the brother-in-law thinks he has something on me....then one day, we're all together and I do something to annoy him (him being Kerry...oops, I mean "the bully") and he gives me that look...that look that says...yeah, I'm gonna tell her....from what I recall, I think that I looked at him...in the presence of everyone and said, "What?  What are you going to do...tell Kas that I'm gay or something?  Too late she knows."  Dick...took the wind out of that sail.  Thanks "T".  Anyway, you get my point or at least I hope you do.  NOTHING is EVER off the record and NO ONE is all that.  If you're embarrassed of yourself or what you do because you have given everyone around you a false view of who you are...then SHAME ON YOU.  Be yourself...be proud....don't have regrets...and don't think YOU'RE ALL THAT...life is too F-ing short. (Maggie (goddaughter and Tina's oldest daughter) and Adriane (Maggie's BFF) take note...you're away from home for the first time (they're both college freshman...different schools, but both away from home) make wise judgments and don't regret them.  Before you do something, say something, think something....ask yourself...."Would I be ashamed, embarrassed, regretful if my Mom, my Yiayia, my Nouno found out?"  If yes...DON'T DO IT...because NOTHING IS OFF THE RECORD!!!  Love you!!!!