Miami checking in....

[Merlin]

I'm a 53 year old out lesbian known as Merlin on other forums. I live in Miami with my partner of 4 years, Cathy, and with my 28 year old daughter, who is also lesbian. My bisexual daughter and her girlfriend/fiance live about half a mile from me. We kind of have a Rainbow Family here...

Since coming out 4 years ago, I've had incredibly good and incredibly bad things happen because of it. It's been a strange journey.

[Jennifer5]

Welcome, Glad you're here!

[schoolboi]

WELCOME! Glad you are here!

[Rubyfruit Angel]

Welcome to the forums! Have a gift basket!

[Merlin]

Thanks, guys. I'm hoping that this will be a place where I don't have to be perpetually on guard to defend myself against every crackpot anti-gay agenda that comes along.

[Zerbie]

Welcome. Merlin - what a cool screenname. Lots of cool screennames around here.

As for this being a safe place - it's very positive around here. Of course, being the internet, that's a relative statement, but on the whole, we haven't had much trolling. It's the most positive online atmosphere I've ever found. I think you'll find it a safe environment - all the regulars on here are so supportive. Caring, kind people. I hope you'll feel at home here.

Glad to have you. Come back and chat some more!

[Merlin]

My screen name... Merlin.

When I was younger and a bit more naive, I spent lots of time trying to hang the apple back on the tree.... thus the choice of Merlin, the mythological character who sought so much after immortality. When I finally figured out that perhaps there was no apple or perhaps even if there was, it is not in any human power to rectify or circumvent the consequences of our distant ancestors, I abandoned the name. Later I adopted "the merlin," a reference to a small hunting falcon used by Kings, abandoning it a few years ago also. Today I use "Merlin" because I am Celtic in ancestry, still relish the Arthurian stories, and every now and then, an apple catches my eye.