Sail! So good to see you here. Lovely kiddo updates. Congrats on overcoming communication challenges! May you both make up for lost time.

Hello, everyone! I feel like I keep up with a lot of Buffistas on Twitter and FB, but I've been thinking of coming back here of late. So when I saw the delurking thread announced on FB, I decided today should be the day.

Let's see, what's going on in my world...I've been in the same job as a compliance analyst in a UW central office for 8 years now. I enjoy the work and my coworkers, so I'm planning to stay for another few years at least, while I figure out whether I want to focus the next 20-30 years of life on writing, something with politics/activism, some kind of lay or ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, or a little bit of all three.

I haven't been writing as much of late--I gave myself a sabbatical in 2015-16 that ran headlong into the 2016 election and turned into writer's block. But I'm working on an obscure-fandom fic (in Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife 'verse), and have vowed to post at least a couple chapters by the end of 2019.

In family news, Dylan and I recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. The child formerly known as Annabel is now a 15-year-old trans boy named Alex who's a sophomore at pretty much the quirkiest small alternative high school in the Seattle Public School system and is thriving there. We're still adjusting to the new name and new pronouns, and we're still figuring out how and when to communicate the changes to our conservative extended families, but needless to say we support him fully. It's been remarkable to see his new confidence and happiness in the last few month since fully claiming his identity. (For the past several years, he'd been identifying as NB and going by his initials.)

So, that's the news. I've missed this place, so I'll probably be around a lot more in the future.

Hi guys! Big doings! And congrats to Alex.

Good for Alex! Sounds like he's got the best environments and people around him to help him grow. It sounds like you have some exciting goals for yourself, too!

It's so nice to see everybody! That's awesome for Alex, Susan, and go Sail with the girlfriend!

I'd forgotten how much I like this annual thing we do.

Good to hear from dear friends!

Well done, Sail! I wish you much nookie.

Exciting news about Alex, Susan. Several of my college and HS friends have kids who are at various stages of gender fluidity, and I think that is true of a few Buffistae kids as well.

Hi Susan! I've seen bits and pieces of your news in various of the social places but it's really nice to get a big chunk of update all one place.

Sounds like he's got the best environments and people around him to help him grow.

I'm so, so glad to be in a city like Seattle that's about as safe and welcoming as a place can be for a young trans kid.

Such good news about your kids and the new GF, Sail!

Incidentally, I'm on Twitter under my pen name, @susannafraser -- lately I retweet a lot of politics and occasionally talk about books and various random interests.

waves at everyone

So, that's the news. I've missed this place, so I'll probably be around a lot more in the future.

I'd love to see you here more! Congrats on the marriage and job contentment. Alex is indeed fortunate to live in a loving home and safe environment. My heart aches when I see young people who don't have this essential love.

I'm only on Twitter in theory. It goes too fast and is hard for me to get into. I'll go over there on occasion following a link, but give up quickly. I'd love to quit FB, but it is the only place I see quite a lot of family and friends. Alas, mostly it causes more stress than socialization.

I'm always so glad and relieved to see parents who are able and willing to support their queer and trans children. Thank you, Susan.