kybearfuzz: (Singles Paired)
kybearfuzz ([personal profile] kybearfuzz) wrote2006-01-22 06:29 pm
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Being Out for Three Years

I wish I had recorded the exact day when I looked into the mirror and accepted the fact I was gay. I remember it was January 2003, but the day is pretty much lost to me. In looking back it seemed so much was going on at the time that the days blurred together. And of course, I didn't have LJ to document it all. Too bad, I think I would have enjoyed having that on record.

I think for this year's anniversary, I'll recount my very first date. I don't mean my first gay date, specifically, but rather my first date.. EVER... at age 30, that just happened to be with a guy :)

I went my first 30 years without dating. I just felt that dating a girl was dangerous, that she'd think something was wrong with me and tell the world. I buried myself in school work for years and later was living in Kansas, which I always viewed as temporary which helped with my excuse of why I never wanted to date the local gals.

So after the coming out process, I popped myself onto a few dating websites and looked around. It was April 2003 and I started chatting with a cute guy that I'll refer to as Tom. Tom was a cute guy, built about like me -- stocky with dark hair and a goatee. He was a fan of cartoons, which left us with a lot to talk about. After some chatting, Tom and I set a date to have dinner and hang out at Carol's on Main, which ironically was one of the places my therapist at the time was recommending I visit. So in my black shirt and jeans, I went off to meet this guy, my first date. I was rather self-conscious, of course, because it was my first date and I had my newly attached braces.

It was a Wednesday, I walked into the restaurant, it was a relatively warm day, and there he was sitting at a booth in a black tee-shirt, jean shorts, a lose button up shirt over him and a ball cap. It wasn't what I thought I'd see him in on a date, but he was very cute. I remember thinking that he had one of the thickest goatees I'd ever seen and his eyes were nearly crystal blue, incredibly beautiful. He was also incredibly furry -- arms, legs, nearly every inch of him I could see. Except his head, which was covered by the ball cap.

We had a very nice dinner. He bought me a few gifts for my coming out, including the multi-colored ring necklace and a rainbow bear air freshener for the car. Not the finest gifts in the world, but I thought it was very cute. After dinner and talking, we drove over to Hamburger Mary's, my first visit there too. On a Wednesday, there wasn't much of a crowd. The tall, skinny dude with red hair that still bartends there was working. I remember that he smarted off to Joan, the drag queen hostess, who ended up slapping him. I thought to myself, it's a dude in dress and I wouldn't put up with it.

We were sitting at the bar watching Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill on the TV. The bartender actually turned off the music and turned up the volume so we could enjoy it. We sat at the bar for a couple of hours. Over that time, we slowly started getting closer and closer to each other. He put his arm around me and I remember how incredibly warm he was. After years of not being near another person like that, I never realized how ... electric... it felt to feel the warmth and touch of another person in a romantic way. My hand brushed his leg and ended up on his knee for quite a while. I was getting very smitten with him very quickly, one of the negatives of being newly out and inexperienced in dating.

It being Wednesday, we both had to get home. So as I was leaving, I told him I'd drive him back to his car. It turned out that he didn't have one and was going to call a cab. I didn't realize that he didn't have wheels as I had met him at the restaurant, so I offered to drive him home. We sat in his apartment parking lot for a few minutes, kissing (my very first kiss too.. and it was damn good) and doing some innocent groping. I got to feel his very furry chest, which just drove me crazy. We ended it before either of us got too far along. So I said good night and looked forward to seeing him again.

Sadly, we only went out one more time over the next few weeks. It seemed that neither of us could find the time to date, so I decided that we should just be friends before I got more involved. I've seen Tom online and out a couple of times, but I've never said hi. He and I were hanging out with different groups and it just didn't feel right I guess. I wish I could tell him the important place in my history he holds. One never forgets his first kiss or his first date.

[identity profile] cachorro34.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
That's a good story! Thanks for sharing! And Happy Anniversary! *HUG*

[identity profile] cachorro34.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome bud!

[identity profile] mikiedoggie.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
That's a good story Mark... and an interesting first date. Thank you for sharing that. Happy anniversary!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, it was actually a great first date :)

[identity profile] ciddyguy.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
What a great story Mark.

Interestingly enough, I had come out 2 years before you did, but at the age of 36. However, the actual day was in mid November, on a cold, wet and somewhat snowy day at that. :-)

But not before having my first tryst during the whole 7 months it took to come to this realization.

[identity profile] ciddyguy.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, and happy anniversary!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL.. well, there is quite a difference between my first date and my first... well, you know... :)

That's a story for another day...

[identity profile] madkevinp.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
That Was Very A Very Nice Memory, Thanks For Sharing...

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you enjoyed it :)

[identity profile] bradferd23.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
Huggs... I was a late bloomer at 25 as well... And mine was total accident.... but I am glad it happened. :) Huggs on your anny !!! :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, here's to us late bloomers :)

[identity profile] algebear.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
That was fun to read! Thanks...

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, glad you enjoyed it :)

[identity profile] daddytodd.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
I also came out at 30; that was in 1990. I was out (to myself and an ever-widening circle of friends and acquaintances) for several months before I had my first gay "date," which was far more stratighforwardly sexual than yours, and not particularly romantic or memorable. I don't remember his name, but I do remember getting carpet burns on my knees...

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I do remember getting carpet burns on my knees...

Well, I can honestly say I would have remembered that myself too :)

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
a very cool memory. I often wonder what my life would have been like had I not come out so early. I remember a lot of firsts, but an actual first date, I really don't remember it at all. I'm envious of ya for that (in a good way :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
See, I envy you coming out so early... I wish I had done it in college. I think I would have been much more outgoing :)

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
funny, you seem pretty outgoing and comfortable in your own skin to me. Coming out early hasn't made me more outgoing at all, just gave me different experiences. In fact, sometimes I think coming out early has made me more gun shy about getting hurt than many who waited til later in life. I do think college, say 18 - 20 years old, is sort of the ideal time to come out, but any time you've succeeded in coming out is a great time ultimately :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
LOL.. this is me now. Back then, I was a bit more timid, hated public speaking, or being in crowds. I've grown up a lot since then.

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you ended up just fine and dandy, even if you think it took you a while. It's just part of growing up. Even after being out 24 years I am still quite timid in most social situations and crowds (I know, hard to believe the way I come across online I'm sure).

For you, coming out early probably wouldn't have made you much less of those things in my opinion. Most likely would just have more notches on your heart/bedpost and thats about it. Embrace your low mileage, it's very attractive on ya :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww.. you're a charmer! Thanks :)

[identity profile] dendren.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
naw not a charmer (at least not in this case)... I just call em like I see em :)

[identity profile] martini-tim.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Nice story, Mark. I also came out in January 2003, but I was 37. I was a VERY late bloomer.

[identity profile] hankbear.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
Same here, both time and age. I wonder what prompted all of us to come out at the same time?

[identity profile] martini-tim.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it was the holidays. At least for me, that January I was thinking "no more holidays like that!".

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I hit 30 and told myself, "this is stupid for a grown man to act this way.." Why should I be uncomfortable, when it's so much more fun to make others that way... It wasn't easy, but it was worth it ;)

[identity profile] bookish-cub.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for sharing your story!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, handsome ;)

[identity profile] boobooirl.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
That's a great story!
I took 10 months to go on my first gay date. He sounds lovely. You were definitely going for quality rather than quantity!

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow.. I don't think I could have waited ten months, three were long enough. And he was a very handsome, smart guy :)

[identity profile] bearfuz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 08:48 am (UTC)(link)
Sweet story. Even brought a hint of a tear to my eye.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww.. handsome, thanks.. *hands you a tissue* :)

[identity profile] hankbear.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for sharing! Sounds a lot like my experience. I wish I could remember some of the details better, though.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
It's strange the elements that you forget and the ones you vividly remember. I would have thought that the moment I came out to myself would have been a paramount moment in my memory, but strangely, I lost it :)

[identity profile] hankbear.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
I know what you mean. I really don't remember the exact moment, either.

[identity profile] truebrixon.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for sharing your story Mark. I know I too have fond memories of my first date and kiss. Of course I'm sorta wierd in that I'm just now starting to come out almost 6 years later! Happy Anniversary Mark! :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
From the discussions I've had with many friends, both in person and online, everyone comes out at their own pace. We're just glad to have you :)

[identity profile] truebrixon.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Why thank you. I'm glad to be had...wait that didn't sound so good. ;) Seriously though, thanks. :)

[identity profile] bigreddee.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Anniversary, Mark! That electric feel is unmistakeable...though I came out at 21, I totally relate to that first time.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
It's unbelievable, isn't it? I think it is one of the reasons why I'm such an ravenous cuddler. Having gone without that feeling for so long, I enjoy it immensely now. It is without a doubt the best part of sex (in my opinion).

[identity profile] pariahcub.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Really enjoyed reading this. Happy Anniversary! *hug*

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-23 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it :)

[identity profile] rixtur.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 10:06 am (UTC)(link)
Great story, I cant remember my first date, must not have been memorable. you and I must have been chatting with each other now for quite some time, I met ya when you hadn't had your braces for very long. Time flies

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2006-01-24 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
Oh I'm sure happy that they are off :)

[identity profile] signinginohio.livejournal.com 2006-01-30 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Very Nice Story Mark....I remember when I decided to come out It was August 2001 when I was 34. Yes another late bloomer here...and still learning as I go :)