So, I came out to my parents today.

It wasn't an intentional reveal, but it happened exactly the way I would have wanted it to happen.

I had called my mother to tell her that I had purchased a new car...and to tell her my previous one had been stolen months before.
I have a very good relationship with my parents, but I'm a very reserved person who doesn't go out of his way to share what's going on in his life very often. When I do, it's usually to share something significant. So when I do get into a conversation with my mom, it can go on for a while.

In this case, I was trying to describe to her how "Tumblrite" has become a bad word, and in the course of the conversation it was mentioned that I am on Tumbrl's "naughty" list because I'm a cisgender white male, and thus representative of the oppressive patriarchy.

Her response was:

"And you're a heterosexual male. You are heterosexual...right?"

There was a long pause. The question probably came up because one of my younger cousins (who is now in his twenties) had come out as being gay, and his sister (also in her twenties now) just got a girlfriend.

Eventually, I responded with the truth I've been wanting to admit to her for nearly twenty years...

"No... Actually, I think the culturally-appropriate word nowadays is...pansexual."

The conversation after that went very well.
I had been leaving hints for years that I wasn't anywhere near being straight, and apparently they were only partially successful. It was still a bit of a surprise to her, but there was no shock or disappointment. I think it made sense to her. I had never concealed my proclivities, but I also had never made a point of them. My parents responded in kind, trusting to me to inform them about anything I thought they should know.
In short - they respected my privacy.

Eventually, my father came home from work and I talked to him for a little while. I was unsure how he would take it, as I know that both of them are set on having grandkids, and I worried that they would take the news as a death knell for the family line. But he was just as cool with it as my mother was. Neither of them shied away from the fact that they had a preference that I find a nice girl and start a family, but it was more important to them that I be true to myself and find someone that I can be happy with.

While I wasn't that concerned about them having a fit over it, given their fairly progressive dispositions, I nevertheless was a bit worried that it would be a shock or a let down for them. After 30-something years of seeing your son a certain way, I worried this would change their opinion of me. Yet I was surprised in my turn that they took it as well as they did.
I guess I shouldn't be, since they are old Hippies, after all. But still, it was a heck of a thing to have drop on a random Tuesday night.

Here's to hoping it goes well from now on.