What O'hana Means To Me

Family - A working unit; a loving support system.

People who know me are aware that my "biological" family (so to speak) is my life. However, there's a different sense of family that I've longed for since I came out years ago. Though I drive through rough traffic for at least an hour, I remind myself of the people who are at my destination.

I was told that my "family members" miss the good old days when it was just the four of them. I suppose I can't blame them. They've built a history; a set of memories together. Almost two years ago, I stepped into a house in San Juan Capistrano, absolutely intimidated by the fact that these set of people could make or break my relationship with the boyfriend.

Emmett...the best friend.
Nathan...the mom.
Geoff...the, um...drama that makes our lives interesting? (Yes. We love him to death too.)

Anyway...

These were the main guys that would determine my membership into this O'hana. I was having trouble finding one I could belong to. I was Stitch finding a place to belong to...wondering if I could ever fit in a world I wasn't familiar with to start.

Every family has additions and omissions, but there is always a core set. I'd like to think that I've been an addition to this support structure. In fact, there's been a few. After me, there was another boyfriend who jumped into the mix and then a few others who fit as well. I could see why it was a threat to the core group. There's a fear of losing intimacy within the group...almost in a territorial way. With every addition, there was a few omissions, but we won't really get into that. heh.

I'll be the first to admit that I was a tad offended when I heard that it was better as just a core group. However, every unit must grow, not just in numbers, but in experience too. In the end, when I sit down to a meal with them, fly to a far away land with them, get drunk with them...I know that I've been accepted into this family and I finally belong.

Fourth of July is about freedom. This long weekend, I was able to celebrate who I am inside and a family who embraces a part of me that I have to conceal at times...

A family is about love and unity.

The SJC family welcomes me into a house full of love and memories.

Thanks to them...

I.

AM.

FREE.









That's what O'hana means to me.