The Nephew……………………………………………PAGE

from Brett

Max and Uncle Eric

A Bursting Through Moment is a short story from a Bursting Through Member. These short stories recall moments when compassion and empathy align and love comes bursting through. These are the extraordinary moments in our ordinary lives. Moments put a little more love in the world.

“The Nephew” is a moment from Bursting Through Member Brett told by Connections editor Steve Petersen.

The other day, I happily picked up the phone when I saw my friend Brett calling. I barely got out my hello when he said, “I had a Bursting Through Moment!”

I’ve known Brett for nearly 30 years, he is one of my favorite people and a constant in my life. He’s really more like a big brother than a friend, so him having an experience he wanted to share with me was really incredible.

He said, “You know we had Eric’s (his husband’s) family here the other weekend right?” I did.

He went on to explain that he and Eric have a nephew, Max, who is 14. Eric and Brett have been together since 2003 and Max has only ever known them together.

Brett and Eric have a cool art piece hanging in their kitchen that incorporates their wedding date of 12/18/12. Max asked Brett what that date meant.

Brett told him that was the date that him and Eric got married.

Max had a curious reaction. He challenged Brett a bit. It didn’t make any sense to him because he is 14 and he knew they have together been together his whole life. He knows because he has seen pictures of him with them as a baby. After all, Brett and Eric have been together for 18 years and Max is 14.

Brett explained that as gay men they were not legally allowed to get married until 2012. This stirred a lot of emotions in Max. He’s 14 so he didn’t articulate those emotions, but from what Brett told me, it sounded like a combination of confusion, absurdity and anger. He couldn’t imagine a world where the Uncles he loves and are such an important part of his family were not allowed to be married.

Seeing Max react that way also made Brett emotional. He realized they were having a moment where love comes bursting through. Brett and Eric’s love and relationship was so natural to this 14 year old he couldn’t imagine life without it and Brett realized that their example had put a little more love into the world.

Brett, thank you so much for calling and sharing this Moment! Now it can keep putting a little more love in the world every day. You and Eric are a great example of love and commitment to your family and friends.

If you liked this Bursting Through Moment and would like to see the video, you can watch it and other Moments on our YouTube channel by using the links below.

Play THE NEPHEW Play THE COUSIN