I stopped at my old church last night to be there for a special recognition of my Mom. Afterwards she was walking me down the hall as I was leaving, and as she was giving me the "Thanks for coming" hug, another member came up and just blurted out "Are you a nudist?!". She had just seen the license plate on my truck (Play Nud). My Mom stiffened a bit, and got this funny stricken look on her face. I know it dosn't SOUND funny, but you had to be there. I can't really put it into words to give the moment credit.

Anyway, I said "yes", and this lady says "Wow, I never would have thought.", then something about not knowing about some people. She wasn't upset, just a bit surprised I think. She even had a smile. Mom wasn't real happy about it, though. She knew already, but that was the first time it had really come up in public. She turned around and said "Yeah, you just don't know, do you?" or something to that effect.

I guess it will be all over the church soon. Something might be hittin' that ol' rotary osculator (that don't look right but it's what the dictionary said).



You know, though, that that was the first time I had actually stated to anyone besides another nudist, without it being a twist of a phrase, that I was a nudist. There was no dancing around the words, or anything. She asked, I said "yes". Kind of a defining moment, really.


P.S.- My last day at my old job ended yesterday without so much as mention. Well, one guy shook my hand and wished me luck, but that was the new guy!!! Nobody that I've worked with for the last 11 years said so much as a word. I go in today to move all my tools and stuff. Maybe that's when they'll have my party. Yeah, right. Monday's a whole new start for me. Pray for me, or wish me luck, or sumthin.

later
God Bless
Kevin

Hey Kevin, Kudos for your encounter at church. I bet it felt good to be honest about who you are.

About the old job--I'm sure it hurts a little to leave with so little recognition. I have found that the recognition of others can be somewhat hollow; in the end you must believe in yourself and take your satisfaction in knowing you did a good job. When I retired not long ago (as a still young man ), I enjoyed the 'going away' that I received; but no one from the office has bothered to stay in touch, except for a few e-mails from a couple of close associates.

I congratulate you on the new job. After the long wait, I do believe God is placing you where He wants you to be at this time. God bless you.

Tom

You handled the issue at church quite well. My experience is that lay people aren't generally likely to have a problem, but some pastors don't handle it well. In any event, with that license plate you couldn't have expected to stay in the closet.

That's painful to work someplace for that long, and it isn't even noticed when you leave. In my mind that is confirmation that you made the right choice to get out.

Good wishes as you go on from here.

Wow Kevin,
Sorry about your job, but maybe it is time to move on. I stayed at my last job for four years, two years too long! But it was great while it lasted.

And congratulations on your ability to speak out, but a licence plate that says pla nud? And you never "told" anyone? You took more chances than I do!!!!!
You might say you got a "license to be nude".

Even I haven't gone to church with any marks on my car saying such! But again, I have told non nudists about my lifestyle. I suppose it's more in the how you tell it than who you tell it.

And poor mom. She'll be OK won't she? I suppose she will, you don't sound too worried about it.

Boyd

Kevin, If I can get back into my chair..... A friend and I used to do a comedy routine where we mixed up words that are almost right. The osculator was one of those words. If there really was such a word it would be "lips". Osculate is kiss, we would use it in place of oscillate. The comic strip, Frank and Ernest, which my wife declares to be the stupidest thing in print, is the type of line we did. It has been years ago but you took me way back. Thanks!! I needed a good laugh to start my day. When I was about to retire years ago I was told by several that I would be missed greatly. I quoted this little poem for them; "Take a pail of water, Put your hand in up to your wrist, The hole thats left when you pull out your hand, Is exactly how much you will be missed." On the serious side, I spent some time as an actor and singer years ago and one thing I learned was you only get one round of applause per performance. I would rather know that God was pleased with me than everyone else I know. I retired with no fanfare and have even told my wife, should I one day need to be buried I don't want a funeral, just a headstone saying "Opening Soon" Bearone

Congratulations on your revealing. I had a church member comment on my tan, saying something about how I did it. I just said I go naked. She didn't appear too shocked.

My retirement was somewhat without fanfare because I'd elected to stay on in the refinery for another couple years after they eliminated my job. To retain my title, I would have had to move back to a research & eng'g office where I didn't want to live (and would have cost me more money, lost acreage, etc). My manager let me stay on those last 2 years with same salary but a demoted title. Would have had a better sendoff going back to the research & eng'g outfit that I'd worked at for 25 years. I was happy in the refinery doing mostly computer tool work but with an occasional design job (and those all worked fine, by the way; I just didn't help start them up) to pay my way. So, I didn't mix with the refinery folks that much, not like I did with the engineering guys and other folks around the world in that job.

Ralph
The naked gardener
God's original intent

Guys, thank you very much for all the wonderful comments. Makes a fella feel good. You guys especially have made this place feel like home.

Bearone, thanks especially for your comments. Very relevant. And I'm glad I could bring you a laugh. When I hit the dictionary real quick for that post I knew it just didn't look right, but I was in kind of a hurry. Just looked it up again. "Oscillator"!!! Now that looks right!

And, yeah Boyd, I think Mom'll be just fine. She may not like it, but... maybe this will jive me a chance to explain how I feel, calmly and rationally(no my family's best side ).

God Bless
{{ You all }}
Kevin