CF in Real Life

Up until recently, I didn't know anyone in my area who is CF. This has been a bit difficult to deal with sometimes, especially considering how important children seem to be around here. Even the parents I've befriended at school who are generally pretty nice people have bingoed me when the topic has arisen (I've gotten the "it's different when it's your own" bingo so many times that it's getting harder and harder not to smack these people). It's exhausting and admittedly kind of depressing. While I know they don't mean any harm by it, it's still extremely hurtful to have my feelings dismissed that way.

But I recently met a couple of CF individuals. Both are older than me (one significantly older, the other not so much), one married and one single. We have several other things in common aside from our lack of desire for children, which makes the whole thing even sweeter. I've had a handful of opportunities to spend time with both of them lately and it's been amazing. Aside from the one conversation with each of them when I discovered they were CF (which included me staring at them in awe and then hugging them when they confirmed the lack of desire for children), children have not been brought up. I have been able to be social and not have the conversation hi-jacked by parent-talk. I've been able to spend time with people and not get bingoed.We can make plans without anyone having to worry about getting a baby-sitter.

These past few weeks, despite the stress of school and trying to find a job and dealing with my religious conservative family so much (among other things), have been probably the happiest few weeks of my life. It's really amazing what a difference it's made being around other CF people in real life. As wonderful as the internet has been with the CF communities I've found, it can't replace actually interacting with these people.