AUGUST: IT'S GAME TIME.

Right, kids -- I know it's not August yet. 

YET. 

The countdown's begun, though. Saturday = August 1st = NO MORE WASTING TIME. It's damn time I bite the bullet and do it.

It's time to out myself once and for all.

Epic sentiment, I know. Sometimes you need to talk brash and add an extra swagger to your step in order to psych yourself up for The Moment. And OH GIRL, will I need me some of that...

Game Plan:

• Corner my lil' brother sometime this week and tell him. Easier said than done. He keeps bizarre hours and is generally asleep when the world is alive. Regardless, I want him to know and preferably mention this to my older sister (the one who is still ignoring the fact that I came out to her, oh... maybe three years ago).
• Have The Talk with my parents at the same time -- oh, deep breaths, deep breaths. I've gone back and forth between the idea of telling them at opposite times (Dad first, Mom second) vs. the same time. One-on-one seems less daunting than two-on-one. But, I wouldn't want one parent to feel offended if I went to the other parent first. Granted, talking to them both at the same time would more than likely limit the amount of rational discussion we could have about the subject. I imagine there will be discomfort/anger/possible depression that will arise and build more aggressively with two people there vs. one. But no, I gotta stick to telling them both at once. I can't see the other way working out well.
• Come out to the rest of the old high school crowd I hang out with. This will be decidedly easier vs. coming out to the immediate family. If they don't know already, then I know they will be entirely accepting. I mean, I should have told them years earlier, but the strong sense of guilt instilled in me compels me to talk to the 'rents and siblings before I disclose to friends. 

I figure August will be a good month to tackle this one. Chantal will be back in town (at least for the month) and My Advocate returns from abroad in the latter half of the month. In both cases, should the home front turn sour or unsavoury, I will have two places to crash (not to mention the support of two amazing friends who will, undoubtedly, keep me sane during the difficult months ahead).

I have quite a bit of cash saved up as well and I'm debating if I should be so drastic as to pack a bag or two, just in case. I like to be prepared for the worst even while hoping for the best. Better to be set than unprepared. 

Again, it might sound drastic and melodramatic, but..... well, sometimes it's just the position you find yourself facing. Though, based on my current track record, it will all be entirely lack lustre and filled to the brim with people saying, "Yeah... yeah, I know. What took you so long to say something?"

We shall see.