Relative Strengths

My Dear Fellows and Dear Princess,

You may be surprised to learn that I hold some things back and don't share them on Blip.

Okay, you can pick yourselves up from the floor laughing now. I know it may seem like I spend a lot of my time on here talking about my bowels, and nudity and bums but that's because it is all to do with me and I am unashamed and unembarrassed to discuss my secrets here with you.

MY WILLY IS AS SHORT AS A LEBANESE CUCUMBER

See? Like that. Not a problem.

But the filters are on when it comes to other people's stuff. Even though this is theoretically an anonymous channel, and only the three of you know my secret hidden identity* I don't like to talk about other people's secrets.

And I tend to err on the side of caution. Because you can't be SURE what other people don't want out in the open.

So there's something I've been holding in for a couple of months, but now it seems okay to talk about it. For reasons that will become evident.

It started before Xmas when Tups told me that Lovely Niece #2 had been having some issues with anxiety. It's not something I really understand, but she was being evaluated on whether it was serious enough to determine if she required treatment for it.

LN2 didn't tell me any of this, and I didn't press her on it. I don't really know what to say, but I know better than to force myself into a situation. All I can do is be a supportive uncle from afar. 

But over the weekend, Er Indoors and I noticed that LN2 has been talking about it on social media. She posted a very practical video clip on Instagram. She doesn't talk about what she's been suffering at all, but she does say that she checked herself into hospital for evaluation and gives helpful hints and tips for such a stay. "I couldn't find anything telling me what to expect," she says, "so I thought I'd post this for anyone going through the same thing."

It's just her reassurance to other teens out there, that it's not as scary as it seems. She recommends you bring additional pillows, lots of pens, fluffy socks and (because she is a teenage girl) your full face-care regimen. She goes on to say you are not allowed razors for the obvious reason, so you may want to bring along some hair removal stuff. 

It's very practical and friendly and even funny. "You can't have a CAMERA on your phone!" she exclaims. "You'll have to bring along an old-fashioned brick, which is rubbish."

The internet can be a horrid, cold, hostile place. But she's put herself out there, offering advice to other kids to hopefully make them feel less scared than she did. I think she is very brave and I messaged her to tell her that I loved her. You can't know, of course, whether words have an effect. But I hope they do. 

I think it's amazing. I think she's amazing. I'm a very proud uncle today.

S.

* I'm a mild-mannered janitor by day. But HONG KONG PHOOEY by night.