There’s so much talk about normal –
the “new” normal after my parents deaths,
the “new” normal post pandemic.

People have asked me before
“why can’t you just be normal?”

The truth is I don’t know what “normal” is
and I don’t think I want to be normal.

I was supposed to have a husband and kids by now,
a house in the suburbs,
maybe be a nurse or a teacher,
a good Christian woman.

But I’m a 52 yr old queer woman,
never married,
no white picket fence for me,
a social worker.

I went left instead of right.

I don’t want to be normal.

I’m a rebel.
a silent rebel.