Fun Home 2/2

It's a little strange how much of this autobiography I can relate to. My overall feeling toward this work is an unflinching admiration for Bechdel's being able to lay all of the parts of her life out so honestly, baring all of her tender spots and insecurities for the world to see. I'm thankful that she did so.

But as I was saying, it's a little strange to me how much I can identify with parts of this work. The OCD is one part that I wasn't really expecting to see here (for whatever reason, I'm not really sure why; possibly the stigma and misunderstandings associated with it and similar disorders? The lack of their appearance or serious portrayal in popular media?). The painstaking effort to "show neither one preference," whatever the 'ones' might be, reminds me of myself when I was younger; in my case, my 'ones' were my left and right hands. Did it make logical sense? It did at the time (Bechdel 137).

Another bit that demanded attention was the uncertainty in oneself, especially how Bechdel used "those three dots [ellipses] to indicate not so much omission as hesitation" (162). I still see that hesitation in myself and have for years; lately I've taken to prefacing everything that I say that could be taken as even slightly controversial in any way, adding disclaimers everywhere possible, simply because it's easier to live that way. It may get frustrating (as I've been told) and it may make me sound like I don't commit to things (which isn't the case), but I'd rather live in such a way that those who I'm speaking to are aware of the fact that I am not trying to actively hurt them (rather, that I am consciously attempting the opposite).