Normal, for a little while.

I've been dating a great woman for a couple of months now, and yesterday we took a leap forward in our relationship. I met her parents. We drove 90 minutes to Lake Wallenpaupack to her family's summer picnic.

I was really scared. I almost told her I couldn't go. Even with all the counseling sessions, I still look in the mirror and wonder how people can look at me and not get sick. Wearing a baseball cap helps outside in public, people don't notice unless they get a good up close look.

I realized that maybe I wasn't giving my lady enough credit, and that's what she is, a great lady. Her family welcomed me like they had known me all their lives. I found out from her older brother that she had told them all about me, and how I had served in the Army. She hadn't asked them not to mention my scars on my face, but they didn't anyway, we only talked some about politics and hopefully the end of the war.

They made me feel normal. Last night I told her I loved her. On the drive home I started crying, and she asked what was wrong.

I told her nothing, that everything was great, and I thanked her for making me feel normal again.