My son's fiancé sent me a text earlier today, which although not unheard of is at least unusual enough to catch my eye.

She sent me a short note that said, "Just want you to know that you inspire me. Love you!"

I cried when I read it, and I am crying now as I type this.

She reminded me of something. Today is Transgender Day of Visibility, and although most of us just want to live our lives quietly and peacefully, attracting as little attention as possible, please help those you can to understand who you are - who we are.

For those in the United States, don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour tonight. At 2:00 AM most of us go on Daylight Savings Time - unless of course you live in one of the odd (not a slur, just different from the majority) areas that does not make the change.

So remember, at 2:00 AM it's really 3:00 AM - for those of us who can't sleep, we get to spend one less hour staring at the ceiling over the bed, listening to soft music, and praying that our demons remain at rest for one more night.

D

After dinner this evening, I sat with my oldest son and watched the end of the movie Platoon. One of the final lines of the movie that Charlie Sheen gives through a voice over as he is medivac'd out has always stuck with me. "Those of us that did make it have an obligation to rebuild - to try and find some goodness out of what we survived."

That could be applied to most of us in one way or another. We are all survivors in our own way, and we all have an obligation to make the world better - not just for ourselves, but for our children and for those who will follow after us.

Some time back I was outed by one of my nephews, a particularly nasty and unthinking individual whose actions have unfortunately caused me multiple issues, not to mention the total polarization of my ex-wife's family. My ex-wife was the only person outside of my therapist and my friends here who actually new that I was transitioning - my plan being to address this with my sons in the spring of 2014. My three sons, who at the time my nephew decided to tell the world were aged 17, 22, and 25, unfortunately found out in a less than optimal fashion.