No apologies for longwindedness. I'm glad your stepdad is supportive and that your mother is, if not exactly ecstastic, not angry with you. I fell intensely in like with a gal in college but things didn't work out between us (bitch :) ). I can only imagine what my parents' reaction would have been if they had. I know for a fact they *never* would have accepted me as a lesbian. And I totally get what you're saying about your grandparents. I don't think it's shameful; in a way its respectful. Can ya really change the opinion of a 75 year old anyway? There's no point in rocking the boat with them at this point.