I’m from North Platte, Nebraska. Home of “Nebraskaland Days”, Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West Show”, and … well … cowboys. My family lived out in the country, several miles from the nearest family with kids my age. I attended country school, where I had a huge crush on one of my classmates that lasted from kindergarten all the way through high school.
I was a pretty huge nerd growing up; I was the kid who was into science, loved to read, and knew a little bit about everything. I was once referred to as “a pansy” by my 7th-grade teacher because another boy and I chose to stay inside and try to figure out how to build our own radio rather than go outside and run around in the dirt.
I was always attracted to butch girls and less-than-macho boys, so I knew there was something a little different about me, but it wasn’t until I was about 20 that I decided I must be what people referred to as “bisexual”. In North Platte, Nebraska, you might as well have replaced the word “bisexual” with “radioactive” because that’s how people would have reacted had they known.
As it is, I was able to avoid any serious unpleasantness and escape to college in a much larger city (still in Nebraska) where I found that I wasn’t the only one of “my kind” in the state after all.
I still live in the city where I went to college, with my male partner of 18 years. We are fortunate to be allowed to live in a house owned by six cats, with a big attached workshop where we dabble in metalworking, woodworking, and electronics. Life is good.
Great to read the story of someone else from Nebraska. We all seem to leave our small town and move to the University city to survive and have a real life.
Bill…
Very nice to hear a story from someone from Nebraska. I grew up just down the road in Sutherland and graduated 30 some odd years ago. I never really had any hassles in school, but always felt “different”, like i didn’t belong. I left NE after college and have no desire to return. My family is still there, and for the most part, are mostly accepting. I love NE but really, there is no reason for me to ever return to live.
I’m glad things worked out for you.
Ray