The above picture is from one of those "you should have been there" moments. Several years ago, I went to "Burlesque by the Beach" with YGM, and had a great time. The lady in the picture was doing a pantomime of woman getting dressed while almost naked and the audience was having a great laugh.
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If I could turn back the clock, I'd probably turn it back to a time when YGM was here - and take advantage of the chance to be with this friend more often. Now that she's in Florida, there's little chance we can get together at will. That's OK, as she's been doing well down there. But up here, I miss the days before Covid-19 struck the land. And when "Normalcy" comes back, my normal will be very different from that I had several years ago.
Soon, I plan to publish a post about a friend who was never able to get out and about as the person she was inside. She always lived in the shadows. Even though I lost a lot over the past year or so, at least I had the chance to live as my authentic self. And I have learned from my past, unlike many people I know.
It takes a lot to be able to withstand the attacks of people who don't understand you. My friend was unable to do that. She had to worry about a wife who didn't accept this part of herself, and couldn't break free of her cocoon. I did. Yet, I sometimes wonder if this has been worth what I lost in the process. Given what I know about people, I think the people I lost in the process weren't secure enough in themselves to understand and accept someone like me.
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Recently, I got a job working as Marian. Several people I know wondered whether I was working as Mario or as Marian. The big question is: "Why should it matter?" I'm the same person no matter how I'm presenting at the moment. If I were to get a different job, I might take it as Mario. (I know one job opening where I will apply as Mario. But I'm not saying where for now.)
Looking back at the time I went to the show with YGM, I realized that the performer in the picture was more sure of who she was than most people I know. One has to have confidence to perform almost naked in front of a group of people. And she had that. I wish more of us had the same....
