I know a lot of people are afraid to tell their families who and what they are. I am not one of those people. My family is fully informed as to my choices. My kids think it is just a natural extension of my personality, which is too obvious, my parents just shake their heads.

Well the former statement may need to be modified after an incident which happened during a visit my folks had to my home down here in Florida.

My parents snowbird to this warm state for a few months to avoid the snow in Maine. This particular visit will be remembered for a longtime........

We met through the web. Distance was going to be an issue from the get go but I let things ride on that. I'm never in a hurry and have others in my area I can play with if I find the need hits me. That being said we started chatting and talking for several weeks. I tend to use my cell on speaker so that my arm does not fall off from holding it up to my ear.

Each day as we talked I would move around the house. Cleaning, cooking or just working on the web. When my folks arrived I did not change my habits. Over the phone I introduced my mom to the lady so she would not feel out of place. They became friendly to this communication measure. I was always good to say that someone could overhear us and to keep that in mind but our conversations would continue pretty much as before.

Soon things took a bit of a strange turn. During a good joke we were having about bondage it became apparent my mom had overheard. While in the kitchen one day we were laughing about the fact that I was going to have to keep her chained in a closet if she ever showed up because the folks were here. She laughed that as long as I fed her she didn't mind. My mom piped into the conversation from the couch that she was going to have to eat thin food so as to be able to get it under the door. We all chuckled on that one.

Each time after she called and I was on speaker my mom would shout out a hello if she could hear us and continued to ask if my lady would really not mind being chained in a closet. She was a hoot during these chats as she really was trying to understand why anyone would put themselves through such a thing. Back and forth the two of them would go as I rolled with laughter.

I get my sense of humor from my mother. She was a teacher and raised 5 sons so very little can phase her. With that being put out there you may understand just what happened next.

By chance and timing my far off friend was coming to Florida. She had to meet me because her curiosity was way past satiable. Her time frame was set and she was on a plane within a week. Little did I know what would happen.

The day of the arrival for fun I threw a beanbag into the closet and hung a chain with leather cuffs from a hook. I thought it would be a great ice breaker and good for a laugh. I dressed casually and went down to TPA to pick her up.

First meets are always tough so I was bound to try and make things easy in the beginning. I arrived exactly on time and she called my cell to let me know she was leaving the luggage area, (cell phone call lots are great things). I pulled up and recognized her immediately. I gave her a hug and loaded her stuff into the car.

We chatted away during the drive to my home an hour north, it was like on the phone so many times before but now it was real and we were extremely comfortable with each other right off the bat. The drive was very good in easing all the tension of first meet and only the folks back at the house were going to be the obstacle to overcome.

It was dark, after 9 when we pulled into the driveway. She took a big deep breath and prepared to come in. I'll admit this was the first time in my 50 years that I had a lady meeting my folks on the first day. I knew it would be cool but still it was odd even for me. We again grabbed the luggage and went inside.

My dad was on the couch watching TV and my mom was in the other room tapping away on the computer chatting with family. We dropped the bags next to the door and I introduced my girl to my dad and then to my mother as she entered the room. I went to the refrigerator for some drinks and we all sat down to talk about her flight and just to all get acquainted. All the previous conversations made things very simple and smooth for all of us.

After an hour or so we decided it was time to put away her stuff and let her get a bath. I grabbed the bags and the two of us went off to the other side of the house and into my room. I flipped on a light and dropped the bags on the floor. I picked up the biggest bag and placed it on the bed. I opened it and started pulling out all the clothes. I told my girl to open the closet and start to put things away thinking my little joke would be a kick. She opened the door and let out such a loud laugh it surprised me. I looked over her shoulder into the closet and found something amazing.

Along with the beanbag and the chains and cuffs, my mother had slipped in to my room and placed all sorts of things in that closet. A box of graham crackers because they could be slipped under the door, flashlights, magazines, books, bottles of water, hand wipes, tissues, pictures on the wall, pillows and sheets on the beanbag. Everything needed for a sub staying in a closet for a week.

Not bad for a 70 year old woman with a sense of humor. Laughter could be heard through the whole house!!