BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
Four years ago, another lifetime, a different blog, a dyke then too, but far less anonymous. There were reasons (mostly having to do with a having two kids and an ex-husband) for people to assume I was heterosexual, and share with me those things that they would never share with queer folk. So eventually, having suffered through one too many homophobic attempt at humor, I outed myself to those people in my world who had not yet figured out my queerness. Single then, I had the freedom to expose myself without reflecting upon others. That blog brought me directly to this place, a shared life wherein exposing myself also risks exposing the one I love the most. I willingly gave up my blog for my love, but missed it. She gave me this anonymous space to return to myself. I’m sure the first posts will be a bit confused and raw, it’s been a while. I fell in love for the first time a few months shy of my 50th birthday.
BEGINNINGS
Where does any story start? Beginnings are a moving target, you think you’ve found the space then you remember a step before… so I walk backward slowly, trying to remember. Walking through dark woods, land mines, danger. There’s always danger in remembering. You remember something and it changes everything you know about yourself. Things you’re sure of, things that matter. I was in a safe place, alone, un-needing.
It beings on September 24th 2010. She is someone I know peripherally, someone known in our profession, not even a friend. She says, ‘so you and I have more then music in common it seems.’ It was a couple weeks after I’d outed myself on my blog, and I was getting an awful lot of these still sort of in the closet confessionals, they were getting a little tedious, a little tiresome, so it surprised me that this one even caught my attention. I remember reading it, putting it aside, processing. My answer, when it came to me, was a long one. I have no explanation. Her words had already grabbed me, but I was unaware.
MEDITATIONS
October
I know I think about her too often, but refuse to be aware that she has worked her way into my consciousness.
Sit quietly, think… There was a space within confusion, a black hole that caused me to write the words to her, to share things I spoke of to no one.
Sit quietly, think… I share words with her, more and more of them, still do not question this. It’s harmless, a pen pal.
Sit quietly, think… I love her words, look forward to them with irrational joy. No matter, it means nothing.
FEAR AND TRANSITION
We’re sitting across the table, talking, looking at pictures. Words exchanged. She comes around to my side. The view is clearer. I am calm, comfortable. No danger here. That was my mistake, wasn’t it? I should have seen it coming… There is a sublet shift, just a fleeting glimpse of it, I focus back on the pictures. She kisses me. KISSES me. I want her so badly, I did not know that, had no idea, but it all floods into me at once. Lust, pure lust, nothing more. There are things I have to believe to survive. Lust is something I understand, I control. I just want to fuck her. Really? Unless I count sexting, I haven’t fucked anyone in years, why now? No matter, it’s just fucking I want, just friction, the feel of her body.
I’m lying to myself.
She says, ‘I like thinking about you’, she says ‘just to complicate things’, she speaks and I try to listen, but my heart is making too much noise, fear pounds loudly. I see her and want to protect her. NO! That can’t be right, protection is too close to emotion. I want to fuck her, I have to believe that. I’ll tell her that I want to take care of her, want to protect her, but what I really mean is that I want to fuck her. I speak the truth to her but lie to myself.
THE DRAGON ENTERS
The dragon first came as an extra, a bit part actor you’d catch a glimpse of in the background, maybe had a line or two, just enough for a SAG card, but no staring role. But the dragon was my first mistake, the dragon made me show my hand, I should have never let her know she held the winning card. The dragon breathed and fire filled my existence. I knew enough not to define my love for her, but the dragon, that definition seemed safe. Dragons excel at that, of course, lulling one into a false sense of security. Every time I sought to define the dragon I was pulled further into the lair. I pretend to other things, but these words were written –
‘And the dragon isn’t real, she’s just a word to explain emotions. I think of the dragon breathing fire, both Prometheus and Pandora, and I’m filled with desire.’
APPRECIATION
So yeah, OK, friends are there for each other, even new friends, even when you’re still exploring the territory of friendship with each other. Time is meaningless, you’re either there for each other or you aren’t. Fair enough, I can’t argue with that logic, so I don’t. She’s unhappy, she’s so in love with someone but the love don’t feel so fine, there’s coldness there and a lack of attention, she’s hurting, speaking of sadness and loss. It’s simple really, she just needs to feel appreciated, just needs that boost to weather the struggles. No harm in that now, is there? Just a word or two, an honest complement, wouldn’t anyone do that for a friend? Damn it, don’t argue with me, there’s nothing special about what I did, she was hurting, I just gave her a little care. You can’t argue with me, friends do that for each other. Would you be a cold hearted bitch and watch a friend suffer? Wouldn’t you tell her she was special? Yeah, I thought so. So don’t rag on me for doing the same, OK? It didn’t mean a damned thing, not a damned thing, I tell you. And it was so easy to do, there were so many qualities to enumerate, so much appreciation to give away.
FUCK
Our hearts are not on the table, whatever bargains we might strike with each other, we’re safe in that knowledge. Lust is a language we share, comfort zone, the promise we keep. Fucked up and damaged I tell her, already in love with someone she tells me. Our hearts are not on the table. I try to speak, but it’s not words I’m after, it’s lust, sex, friction. Nothing more.
Fuck. I’m shy, it’s been a long time, I know I’m not all that I should be anymore, I feel my lack pretty acutely, but what does it matter? It’s just fucking, right? No strings, no emotion.
Fuck. I’m less shy, less awkward, this world is coming back to me. This world of freedom, no strings, no emotions.
Fuck. I’m almost feeling it now, almost. Just a shadow, an edge of something not quite where I want to be. There’s yearning
slipping in, sometimes there’s a glimpse of something I can’t quite describe as lust.
Fuck. Not her this time. What does it matter? It’s lust, sex, friction I’m after. I am in my element, confident, secure, taking control. I mastered these things. I bring pleasure easily but do not take it in. My hands on this body but my mind is on her. Fuck, that really scares me.
Fuck. It’s her again. She fills me with… emotions are not something I let me self get too far into, just get back to fucking. I can’t take it anymore, I don’t want to think of what it is I feel.
We head unavoidably toward the precipice, our hearts dragging us in against our better senses.
We are closing in on four years now, crazy, fucked up, tumultuous years, years filled with words we treasure and words we regret. We are difficult people, emotional and sensitive. There are black holes, in our darkest moments we can easily believe that light has been extinguished for all time. There is love, abundant love. In every way, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever known, and oh, how I love her.
