Outed!

I'm not sure how much of my natural lack of subtlety is genetic versus environmental, but it's definitely a family trait.

In general, I tend to be very much "don't ask, don't tell" in regards to the interaction of my personal life with my family. When my baby shower ended up happening for logistics reasons right on the tail end of a Mabon ritual at my home, I fudged a bit on the details of what was going on, calling it "a harvest party for the fall equinox". No scary words. (And no one would have actually noticed the ending-of-previous-event except for the big chunk of folks who decided not to stay for the shower obviously traipsing out at the beginning of a party. Thanks guys :P)

So yesterday afternoon, we're at a late Hannukkah party at my stepmom's when my little-little sister (who is in high school) runs in and yells, "Hey Vicki! You know about Wiccan, right?" I answer, "Yeah, some. Why?" "You need to come see this website." "Um, okay." Walking into the kitchen, I don't find a computer, but there's a printout of a few pages with some damn nice wands on it. My stepmom and big-little sister come in. My stepmom sees me looking and says "Yeah, that's Cousin Robert's website. Thought you might be interested."

Then, a flurry of talking:

L-LS "Yeah, 'cause you're a Wicca or do Wiccan or whatever right?"
Me: "Well, yes."
(Although I'll work pretty hard to avoid being in people's face, I usually will answer direct questions directly.)
L-L S: "So you're a witch, right?"
Me: "That's a word a lot of people use for that, yes."
L-L S (running out into living room with pile of guests, and to a confused Bard): "Hey, is Vicki really a witch?"
Bard: *blank stare*
L-L S:"Well, are *you* a witch?
Bard: "Well,yes."
L-L S (running around room):"Hey everybody~! Bard and Vicki are witches!"
(still in kitchen, concurrently)
B-L S: "Really? You're a witch? Is that good to do? Maybe I should do that..."
Stepmom: "I can't believe I've known you all these years and you never told me that.."
(I walk out of kitchen, and into living room.)
Bard (talking to kindergarten-age cousin, seriously): You know how you are Jewish, and sometimes people call Jewish people Jews? Well, some people have a religion called Wicca, and people sometimes call them witches..."
Little Cousin : *confused look*
Me: "I know, you're wondering where our pointy hats are."
LC: *nods*
Me: "We're not that kind of witches."
(LC wanders off, satisfied.)
L-L S:"Hey, wait a minute, aren't you Unitarian?"

Then we ate little hot dogs in pastry, and I ate a lot because I missed them at New Year's and I thought I deserved them. No one stopped me.

And my stepcousin Robert apparently makes some damn fine wands.