by Michæl W. Bard ©2006 Michæl W. Bard

   For people with normal interests, the holiday season—Christmas and New Year’s and so on—is supposed to be a time to spend with family; bond with relatives, relax, have fun, that kind of thing. Sadly, for those of us with more… specialized… interests, it doesn’t work that way.
   I went home for a week around Christmas, and went to the greater family Christmas Dinner (all the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc). With just family, I sat on the steps and watched them have fun, smiling occasionally. With the greater family, and approaching 30 nieces, nephews, and cousins, there was not a single one I could talk to about things that are important to me—writing, transformations, fursuit ideas, furrydom in general. I watched from even further away.
   In a crowd of 50 relatives, I was on the outside looking in at the merriment.
   With my immediate family I even tried to sneak in a ‘furry’ present by asking for furry paw slippers because I said I wanted something ‘nice and warm’ and suggested them as a nice warm option. I got normal slippers instead.
   So, what can I do? What can any of us do? Society expects us to spend time with our families—our blood relations. And yet, many of us are afraid to tell said family what our interests are. We’re afraid of rejection, of fear, of being disowned. Some of us with reason. Personally, I doubt I’d be disowned, just looked at oddly; but I’m afraid to spout the truth. Thus, when asked, I say I’m working on a costume, not a fursuit. And when not asked, I just don’t mention it.
   So, I just go home, and spend a week on the outside looking in, watching the normals have a good time. But what else can I do? What else can any of us do?
   I’d probably have more fun spending it with fellow furs, but most of them go off to their families. Some don’t, but to be with them I’d have to break with society’s traditions and expectations and not spend Christmas with family.
   I’m screwed either way.
   Is there an answer for me for this? For any of us? I don’t know—I doubt it. At least as long as furrydom is considered a fringe fetish, like Science Fiction used to be. Until then all we can do is go on, suffer the holidays, and wait eagerly to get back with those who share common interests, and with whom we can talk about our beliefs, our loves, our joys, without examining every word for possible incrimination.
   So, happy holidays…