h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was greatly honoured, then, I guess - when a friend chose me as the first person to come out to. Which I then mucked up utterly by being so utterly surprised that I probably wasn't much help at all - doh!

By contrast, a friend who came out (somewhat) as a masochist had been dropping hints to that effect for some days before hand, and I coped much better. I think the bottle of wine helped, too...

Yes, indeed. You must have made a very good impression to be singled out so. But then, my experience is that you are both a tolerant person and gifted with the rare ability to think before opening your mouth.

So you got caught surprised. That's no big deal. I would guess you then went on to maintain the friendship, yes? That's really all your friend was hoping for.

I've never heard of getting someone drunk to soften news, but probably that's because I don't hang out in bars. Perhaps that's a popular method I'm just not aware of!

Well, the hints helped more than the wine, I think - I was half suspicious already, so it was more like confirmation that revelation

And yep - remained friends - at least until circumstances split us up...

Life may have thrown a boulder in the path, sure. But I bet you're still remembered.