Our friend Tom O used to introduce his beau as his ‘lover’. Too in-your-face?
Situationally, today I use ‘partner’ or ‘spouse’ or ‘husband’ referring to Stephen. ‘Partner’ in uncertain territory, ‘spouse’ when legal union wants to be stated but I sense ‘husband’ may pack the same punch as ‘lover’.
To simplify, since there is ever the possibility I may misjudge my audience in an introductions setting, I’m thinking after 42 years I may revert to ‘roommate’.
What do you think? Let’s give this a try.
Today, my roommate Stephen gave me a new bird by our artist friend Tex C, to celebrate my all-signs-pointing-to successful second eye surgery yesterday.
Of course, this is one of those gifts you give to your companion when it’s really a gift for yourself. Feign to deny…
Please enjoy.
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6 comments
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May 31, 2019 at 1:37 pm
voenixrising
I used to pause for the briefest time before introducing or referring to Ben as my husband. But now I say fuck it. Life’s too short for me to worry about your reaction. If you can’t handle it, I don’t need you in my life.
May 31, 2019 at 2:50 pm
Dave
I’m bracing for someone to say:
“ ‘Lover’ makes you nervous?”;-)
Always appreciate your visit!
May 31, 2019 at 1:56 pm
larrymuffin
No, no the word roommate belongs to the 1960’s it is a bit gauche to use it today and it fools no one when you are over 25. Husband is now the accepted term and to me spouse is also good. I know you are thinking misjudging an audience of adults, well if a word scares them, then they are the ones having the problem not you. Here in Society, I am the husband of or vice-versa and everyone refers to Will as my husband.
May 31, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Dave
I cannot find the ‘roommates’ quote online from ‘The Boys in the Band’, which surprises me, since it is one of the famous ones. It goes something like: ‘Men don’t have roommates after thirty, if they’re not lovers, they’re sisters.’ I use ‘husband’ more than this post suggests, in spite of ‘delicacy’ born of so many long-ago years in the closet. Worry not, Larry! I won’t use ‘roommate’, or ‘boyfriend’ either;-)
May 31, 2019 at 10:50 pm
Willym
As LarryM says we use husband and I find now that I don’t even think about it. For a while I did use “spouse” but found that even that was a bit of a cop out. So husband it is!
June 6, 2019 at 12:40 am
Urspo
I used to say ‘partner in crime’ a tongue in cheek reference to the illegality of our relationship. Nowadays I still say ‘partner’ which sometimes upsets Someone who refers to my as husband. I like ‘spouse’ or mio sposo.