Hello Nurse!

I've known Yak for about a year. I met her last year when she was first getting together with one of my queer female friends. I was immediately drawn to her energy, her smile, and vivacity. Since she was just beginning a romantic relationship with one of my friends, I thought it was best to shelve any desires/designs I had for her and just focus on myself and my other two relationships.

Yak stayed in the background as my friend's girlfriend and I gradually got to know her over the course of the past year at group social events. Things started to smoulder between us around last New Years Eve (Dec 2015) when we were ringing in the new year together with her partners of 10 years (Yak was in a triad), her girlfriend, my partners, and other friends in my queer community circles. The Yak and I couldn't stop eye-fucking each other but didn't follow-through with anything physical. Then, early this past spring, her girlfriend, Yak, and I had a bit fun together one night. And then, months went by without chatting, physical connection, or seeing interest from Yak in pursuing anything else with me. Unbeknownst to me, Yak was going through some major life changes.

Just a few months ago, Yak broke-up with her partners of 10 years. Thus, she had a lot more time availability and inclination to date, and after cuddling with her and Bear in a pile of Muppet fur at the local Burning Man event this year, things started to organically evolve between us. We started seeing each other and cuddles turned into really hot sex. Her girlfriend was so happy for us (yay, compersion) as she had started dating someone else and had less time for the Yak. Things stayed like that for a bit, until Yak and her girlfriend decided to call it quits. So now, Yak has me all to herself...well, she has to share me with Bear and Birdfriend.

A simplistic visual of what our cuddle pile at BitF looked like - L to R, Yak, Bear, and me (the Fox)

Yak is coming home from a month-long journey in India this weekend. Right before she left, we were getting really gushy with each other. New Relationship Energy was running really high, and we are high on it. Having a month to be a part physically allowed things to cool (somewhat) and allowed us to spend time typing and chatting over the internet to know each other in a different, and deeper, capacity. Much to her, and my, surprise - we have been communicating almost daily since she's been gone. Yak has repeatedly mentioned that she's missed me while she's been traveling - something that has also surprised her. Something that makes me smile inside...

I won't lie - I've been pretty gaga over Yak since she came into my life. There's so much to like! She identifies as a dyke, is queer, poly, a nurse, and very happy when in nature. She's funny, kind, intelligent, and a real sweetheart. Plus totally hot! Hello nurse!

Yak compares her "horns" with that of a Hindu cow in India (Sept 2016).

Being amped up on NRE feelings can feel overwhelming. It feels like being swept up in a warm tide that pulls you along into a feeling of borderline drunkenness, and suddenly, you're out to sea. It's something that both Yak and I openly acknowledge. We talk about the happy bubbly feelings and enjoy them because we both know that NRE doesn't last. We've exchanged some loving sentiments, but neither of us are blind to what NRE does to one's brain chemistry (Another hit of oxytocin, please. Thank you, Nurse). Yak and I have this inside joke about keeping our relationship "healthy" because of how unhealthy NRE can be. Yak has admitted that its been a past habit to beat NRE into submission, but not this time. I'm striving for middle-ground with NRE. Here's a cartoon that explains what I mean:

NRE - finding balance is the key!

I've had separate talks with Bear and Birdfriend about my NRE with the Yak, and they are both aware and supportive. Sometimes Bear teases me about it, but it's all in good fun. Birdfriend is likely curious, as they haven't seen me in NRE since I started dating Bear. I know that they are both happy for me, and that they are also grateful for the chance to get to know Yak better too. I am bursting with gratitude that everyone in the menagerie gets along and that we can be honest about where we all stand with each other.

I don't know what the next chapter of my connection with Yak will look like. Honestly, I don't really care because I'm enjoying this relationship so much and don't have any plans for it because it's so new and tender like a seedling. I want to nurture it but not smother it. I want to let it flourish, but not at the expense of my other two relationships. I'm excited, but not impulsive or impractical about my feelings for her. I have hopes for an evolving connection that has ongoing potential, but I'm not putting limits or constraints on our relationship. I want it to unfurl naturally like a many-petaled flower, and to enjoy the process of opening.

I found this artwork on a Facebook page that I liked, will add citation later. But yah, the feels.