A Tasty Surprise
A co-worker began our day this morning by saying she had news for me. Her daughter, a college sophomore, came out as bisexual.
Her daughter accomplished this by baking a cake and literally spelling out the revelation in icing.
Better she than I. Given my wobbly way with decorating, my effort would look like “I’m bisected.”
My colleague and her husband seemed to handle the situation well, assuring their daughter they loved her and this wasn’t a problem. Today at work, she insisted with a laugh, she wants the handbook.
I didn’t have one with me, but I did stress a few points, including that college is a period tailor-made for figuring out matters like sexual orientation; that my friend will need to sort through any feelings of loss she may not know she has; and it’s possible bisexuality will turn out to be, as it was for me, a way station on the trek to lesbianism.
She didn’t flinch at that, I’m pleased to report, and I think it genuinely helped her to discuss these subjects with a grizzled veteran.
As I reflect on the conversation now, I realize I never asked her the most pressing question of all: Why didn’t she bring any of the cake to work?