Reunion
So, I'm on this email list for current and former airborne Spanish linguists. Waldo mentioned it a couple of months ago on her blog.
The group has a reunion every year in different places with significance to that community and this year it will be in Omaha. I've never really considered going to one of these, but this year they're dedicating a memorial to a friend who was killed in action just over 6 years ago. Between the memorial dedication, getting to see my old workplace (it's not just a place you can walk into and visit), seeing the inside of one of the planes I used to fly on, and seeing some old friends, I'm seriously considering going this year.
Anyhow, the complication, as always, is my transition. I've seen a few of the people I was in the military with since I've transitioned but haven't seen the majority of the people who would be attending the reunion. The people I've met don't seem to have issues with it but I'm not sure I can say the same thing about the wider group.
I'm pretty sure most of the people I knew back then already know my story, so it won't really be much of a surprise. It's just a really tight-knit group (and somewhat small) so it will be hard to fade into the background if I'm not feeling all that comfortable. I've been surprised by the generally good reaction I've gotten from the people I've told or the stories I've heard through the grapevine about other people finding out. But this is a group of retired and active duty conservative military types.
I'm not really sure what I'm going to do yet. A big part of me wants to just go and deal with whatever BS I happen to encounter, if any. There have been a number of similar situations in the past couple of years (see my post about Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family) that I thought would go much worse than they did, so I'm not sure I need to psyche myself out of this one just for fear of what may happen. For whatever reason though, this one seems scarier.
The group has a reunion every year in different places with significance to that community and this year it will be in Omaha. I've never really considered going to one of these, but this year they're dedicating a memorial to a friend who was killed in action just over 6 years ago. Between the memorial dedication, getting to see my old workplace (it's not just a place you can walk into and visit), seeing the inside of one of the planes I used to fly on, and seeing some old friends, I'm seriously considering going this year.
Anyhow, the complication, as always, is my transition. I've seen a few of the people I was in the military with since I've transitioned but haven't seen the majority of the people who would be attending the reunion. The people I've met don't seem to have issues with it but I'm not sure I can say the same thing about the wider group.
I'm pretty sure most of the people I knew back then already know my story, so it won't really be much of a surprise. It's just a really tight-knit group (and somewhat small) so it will be hard to fade into the background if I'm not feeling all that comfortable. I've been surprised by the generally good reaction I've gotten from the people I've told or the stories I've heard through the grapevine about other people finding out. But this is a group of retired and active duty conservative military types.
I'm not really sure what I'm going to do yet. A big part of me wants to just go and deal with whatever BS I happen to encounter, if any. There have been a number of similar situations in the past couple of years (see my post about Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family) that I thought would go much worse than they did, so I'm not sure I need to psyche myself out of this one just for fear of what may happen. For whatever reason though, this one seems scarier.
posted by Jessica at
8:45 PM
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3 Comments:
Here's the thing: I'm not sure if I want to go. Honestly, I didn't really like most of the people I worked with and don't know the old guys. I can't stand the bullshit of everyone kissing Tyler's ass or gushing about "J9". J9 is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I've seen her around at STRATCOM and somehow she still has the ability to make me feel like shit about myself.
BUT, some people I really did like. Jill might go, maybe Dana won't be TDY. And? I would like to see you and Holmlund if you could make it.
I'll feel weird about being a captain (albeit, in the Reserves now) when I was never a very good linguist and most of those guys don't think I should have become an officer.
So, what I'm saying is, if you go let me know. Then I'll go too.
By
Waldo, At
March 7, 2009 3:04 PM
Slightly different issue here, but if it helps to know...all my gay friends were people I served with in the military. The military isn't really seen as a gay-friendly either, but so far my friends have all gotten positive receptions when they came out. Granted, they are now civilians and quite able to tell the military nay-sayers to get bent. You could take a similar approach :-)
Anyways, I don't think you should give yourself such a hard time over this. When did it become their business? And if you aren't comfortable don't try to fade into the background...just leave and go to the bar!
I think you should go. And take Waldo with you. If nothing else you will have interesting things to blog about afterward.
By
Mickity, At
March 8, 2009 3:02 PM
I think I'm going to go. I can't commit just yet since it's so far out but I'm not really seeing any reason not to go right now, except for fear...and that's a bad reason not to do anything.
About being an officer...Paul Dalen did the same thing and he was a wonderful airman. :)
Ok, sorry - that was probably out of line.
By
Jessica, At
March 10, 2009 12:11 AM
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