So we are about to celebrate one of my personal favorite holidays. I love Thanksgiving. I do love food (yes, my waistline is rather larger than I'm happy with, but exercise classes have begun so progress is being made.) I'd love to get down as small as Penny, well because I'm vain and I want to be at least able to share clothes LOL!
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. We are both still employed, our families health is good. We are going to have the godkids and their parents over for Thanksgiving. We are both together and still healthy. Our pets are doing well. This year hasn't been as hard as last. We have grown more as a couple this year and it continues to amaze me that our relationship just keeps getting better. I love that we have started to have adventures together out in public and hope to continue on that front.
It has recently come to my attention that there are those out in cyberspace who would be placed by some into the transgender community and they find this label offensive. They have my permission not to use it. When I get a form and it asks for my ethnicity I try to always check the box that says I don't have to tell you that.
Labels aren't for everyone. I am most certainly not a feminist. I am offended by full garbage cans that don't immediately empty themselves yet I have a job that has me scooping poop all day long (go figure!).
I have no problem with anyone who does or does not want a label. You are all welcome to share the ones I take... married, female, heterosexual. You can create your own, share soemone else's. There are labels that are offensive to me, not the words themselves, but for the hate and ideals that are associated with them.
I believe that everyone has a right to their own beliefs. I also believe they have the right to respect mine.
I want to thank you everyone for respectfully commenting when you feel led, and for reading and hopping on if you disagree or just don't like what I have to say.
I am most thankful this year for the new friends that I have made. I am thankful to those of you who have reached out across the interweb to make a new friend. Thank you to those who are out in the world, and thanks even more to those who are only out in secret.
Hugs and if you celebrate Thanksgiving I hope you have a wonderful one.
Aeify
I'm breaking my no comment rule to say, "well said."
ReplyDeleteYou've just given thanks for everything else I care about, but I will say I am GRATEFUL to have you in my life. I wish you weren't asleep right now, although this post does make me want to wake you up.
And "thanks" for saying that.
I hope you and your husband have a nice holiday. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI was going to comment on Penny's query but I think that your post caught the gist of what I had planned to say.
ReplyDeleteLabels and tags are a convenient means of verbally classifying similar and sometimes disparate items into groups. Often we end up being called something based on what we do. For example, I like to dress in woman's clothing. Does that make me a crossdresser? Is it accurate to call me a crossdresser only when so attired or am I a crossdresser even when presenting as a male, which is what I must do 99% of the time? I also like to golf. Am I a golfer only for those 4 hours a week when I am on the course or am I a golfer the other 160 hours of the week? I also sleep. Is it correct to assume I am a sleeper because 6 out of 24 hours a day I am asleep? That makes about as much sense as being called a 'waker' because I am awake 18 out of 24 hours.
My point is simple, there is a place for labels and catagories but nothinng is fully definitional for everyone. We are all individuals and we should celibrate both our differences and our similarities.
My brother has a saying that is pertainent here. "I don't care what you call me...just don't call me late for dinner."
Searching for a single term that would apply on a full time basis to every guy who ever put on a pair of panties would be as much of a misnomer as the concept of "one-size fits all pantyhose."
I enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work.
Pat
Oy, I wish Pat was commenting on my blog! She's good. I agree with everything she said.
ReplyDeleteLet me add that Penny needs to use a label of some kind for her project. It's unavoidable. Whatever term gets used will surely offend somebody. It's unavoidable. Those that take offense can go elsewhere, as no offense is intended.
Terrific post, Aeify!
Good luck on the weight loss- I know that struggle. Labels? I get fed up with them, I try to respect the sensitivities of others but always prefer the individual to the label.
ReplyDelete