Identity, labels, families...

T. Thorne Coyle ranted today about identities:http://yezida.livejournal.com/185625.htmlIt had me thinking, as I had already been doing so, earlier this week... and add into that telling tales late into the night with Gina, JSin, Goddess Lakshimi, Rita Seagrave and a gaggle of the rest of the BMSL folk... I turn my own thoughts to families, granted titles, labels.I have been blessed over the years to be the long distant cousin, the play partner, the friend of the family of a number of leather families... but to formal titles are fewer. More than others, I know, but its interesting for my brain to see them in one place.Lee B. HarringtonProperty of BearLeannan, House DemonachelloPriest(ess), Temple of AtonementBreath Queen (granted by Barbara Carellas)Beloved Brother, Familia PurpeaSadistic 7, West Coast AssholesImmigrant of PalimpsestIts amazing, as I breathe in this list, how true it is. Not just leather titles, per se, but truths. I have undergone my initiations in my service to Bear (for those tuning in, the Deity Bear, Mama Bear, the entity- not a human). I have paid my entry price in flesh, blood, ink, love, and lost time to House Demonachello. I have gone through trials by fire for the Temple. The next two were gifts of love, pure and true, no pain, no heartache, just bliss. The Sadistic 7 started as a joke but is a truth to the core that really does bond that ragtag group together in ways of family I can not fully express. And as an immigrant- I have danced with Mz Annie's bacon on my tongue and seen the echo on the other side of the bamboo grove and I can not go back.I am many other things as well. I am Trash, Daddy, Whore, Slut, Master, Sir, Beloved, Sibling, Child, Mama, Friend, Pervert, Kinkster, Artist, Man Hussy, Femme, Bright Star, Academic Dork... and more that pour off the tongue. I talked with Dan & dawn on Friday night for their podcast about each of us being not just dodecahedrons of identity (I coined "dodecahedrons of love" back in middle school thinking of the conglomeration of polyamory I knew back then), but 100-sided creatures who long to find those whose sides can match ours, reflect ours, pull in ours, dance with ours- not just cling to ours and pull us down.Looking into my labels I breathe.I stop.I examine.I...I AM.Amidst it all... soul to soul to soul, echo out-I AM.