We are astronauts coming back to earth

twenty-five (!) years later I came out as a trans man.

now. the important thing to know about my ex-husband is that he loves nothing more than 1) horrible puns, preferably bilingual ones; 2) terrible dad jokes; and 3) committing to the bit until the end of time. he absolutely lives for Shenanigans and Japery. i do not know how his long-suffering wife puts up with him, but they've been married for more than 20 years so presumably she manages.

so, to break the news to my ex, i texted him. the exchange went something like this:

me: "great news, i'm a trans guy now"

him: "oh, congrats!"

me: "thank you. now for the better news: I insist you refer to me henceforth only as your ex-husband. do you accept this challenge?"

and my cis, straight-as-an-arrow, lives-in-the-midwest, married-to-a-minister ex-husband was like

This is a perfect time to read the brilliant and unforgettable graphic novel(s) Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, about growing up in Iran during and after the Iranian Revolution, and the rise of the oppressive theocracy that persists to this day.

Both graphic novels are available free online (Persepolis vol. 1, Persepolis vol. 2)

not good at other stuff. brain like a blender. once actually i told my mom that it's like riding a surfboard through a tornado: no matter how many flowers i plant, i find the storm coming again on the horizon, whipping up my past into my present. everything becomes a cyclone in a moment. don't know if i did my taxes right; forgot to pack my hairbrush. i'm always forgetting something, actually. rarely ever do i get my work done 100% right; there's always a double-space or a missed comma. not your dog in a fight, i'd probably cry.

but i love you like i wrote you a poem at three in the morning. i love you like your favorite brand of gingerale is always stocked. i made sure to get the pickles you like too; even though i never remember to offer. i love you like your birthday isn't even for another month and i've already made three alternative plans (weather permitting); your gift's already wrapped in a corner.

love you like: give me the wheel i'll drive, you look tired. like: actually yeah why don't you play music, your taste is better. like: you go take a nap, i got this. like: let me make you dinner. like: i already organized everything, it's set to go whenever. like: let me carry that. like: if there's something i can do to make your life better today, i'm going to do it, always. like: okay i lied i did want the last few bites but you were so hungry and this sacrifice is an honor.