Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Tomorrow, I am going home.

It was more than six months ago since I was removed from my home of 18+ years with an invalid petition to involuntarily commit me. I was released in under five hours. But the locks to my home were changed.

A good family lawyer righted that wrong, but it took over six months.

These five women have showed up for me  since day one. We’ve forged stronger bonds through all of this trauma, anguish, and fear. They and others didn’t fade away as time went by. They text and message me. They call often. They have created personal spaces for me in their lives, their families, and their homes.

Today, five of my wonderful friends came into my new spaces in that same house and made them livable. It was hard, heavy work complicated by the fact that I was felled by food poisoning Thursday night. I was pretty useless. They were magnificent domestic goddesses, warriors even.

By new spaces, I’m mean the second bedroom, henceforth known as Sue’s room. We carved out a “living space” in the attic where I can put a TV and my comfy new-to-me armchair and hang out with the attic cats. There’s even a lovely view of the West End Bridge. Behind a cat tree, of course. They enjoy a good view, too.

The cats were traumatized by the cleaning dervishes. Except for Grandma Precious and Grandma Coco, both of whom supervised and had to be escorted downstairs repeatedly.

Good friends with organizing skills and a solid mastery of a spin mop are rare. But there’s more than just being willing to scrub gross things. They never once shamed me or made any comments. Rather, they made suggestions and offered advice with a focus on the end goal of creating nice spaces for me.

It will be sad to leave my home of the past six months. I will miss being part of a family in an everyday way. But it is time to go home, to my cats, to my life – whatever comes next.

I’m also aware that the recent death of my father has forever changed how I understand being part of any family. My nuclear family of origin is gone. My marriage & domestic partnership are upside down. My extended biological family has barely reached out to me all these long months.

These five women have showed up for me  since day one. We’ve forged stronger bonds through all of this trauma, anguish, and fear. They and others didn’t fade away as time went by. They text and message me. They call often. They have created personal spaces for me in their lives, their families, and their homes.

They really are my family now.

So when you read this, send good thoughts my way. I can’t wait to curl up in bed to watch TV and see how the cats respond. Bring on the next chapter …

The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone (Know you’re not alone)
‘Cause I’m going to make this place your home.