Misfit or Popular Kid?

Have you ever been popular? Did you run with the popular kids in high school or in college? I hung out with the misfits in high school only to find myself as a popular lesbian in college.

My experience as a misfit taught me to live my life on my own terms. So that when I came out as gay I was emotionally prepared to be my own person. And to hell with everyone else and their petty small-mindedness anyway.

So that's how it went with me. When I came of age at 22 and as a popular lesbian, my devil-may-care attitude made me a little dangerous (and a little desirable too.) But mostly, being a popular and out lesbian meant I didn't have a lot of competition. It wasn't like lesbians were rushing sororities in those days. We only had gay and lesbian groups and newspapers. And I was the editor of one of those newspapers. My position gave me some visibility and a vehicle for my thoughts.

Those years of popularity made an impression on my young psyche. I "believed" myself likable, desireable and intelligent. I had no idea how vain I was. I just thought I was confident. Actually, it was like I went through an "ego-building boot camp" that would help me endure the hostilities that I would encounter outside the UCLA campus and the world beyond.

But the one thing I still have from those popular days is a personal sense of specialness. Everyone should be popular for a while just to feel that special. And if we're lucky that special feeling lasts a lifetime.

While We Wait

I'm losing track of which day it is. It happens in retirement or so I've heard from the old timers. I'm not worried about losing track too badly because I have Kathleen who is working Monday through Friday every week. Kinda keeps me on track, if you know what I mean. Any way this is coming off as very spacey which is not my intention. Just my unfortunate effect.

Winter...I never get over it or in any way master the season. The climate brings me to my knees and the psychology of living with people who are confined for months would inspire me to art if I wasn't so depressed and just downright emotionally cold. But that's the climate here in the Mid-Atlantic. It's given to extremes. No wonder the local people are stoic and act like soldiers.

I've never been a soldier. On my mother's side of our family, my grandfather died in WWII and has been the last in a long line of soldiers dating back from the American Revolution. So I guess I've got soldiering in my genes but not in my heart.

So when Spring arrives I write and when the light is good, I paint abstract art. I hope to express myself well, humourously, and to a few of your likings.

But in the meanwhile I wait for March. March is the beginning of my new creative year. And It can't get here soon enough!!!

Weather in Paradise

These cold temps just freak me out. I was born and raised in Southern California where it very rarely dipped below freezing temps (and when they did we all worried about the fruit and vegetable crops---would they survive?) Here it is skating around feeling like 0 degrees this morning. Damn cold where you get frostbite if you're exposed for a spell. But everyone says it is "Just Cold!!!" and it is the only topic of the news for today and tomorrow.

Okay, so I'll bundle up and go out when I must but it is so uncomfortable. I guess I'm just a "weather wimp." because I remember what the weather was like in paradise.

It was 82 degrees in LA yesterday.

Passing on the Role of Cinderella

Yup, Obama is going to be sworn in Monday January 21th. But geez that election was waaay too close for my comfort zone. But now the partying begins. We got invites to 3 Balls and 1 Gala which sounds wonderful. But I'm afraid we are going to have to pass on all of them.

These Balls are major fund-raising events. Basically, you spend a small fortune to go to their party. It's a huge social networking opportunity if you're into politics or life in DC, Virginia or Maryland. Since we don't get out much and mostly interface with the world through our laptops and credit cards, I'm thinking that we can pass on the opportunity for facetime with the DC social elite.

Quite frankly the Women's Ball in 97' that Kathleen and I attended was somewhat disappointing. President Clinton didn't show up. And while we looked fabulous in white tuxedos, other people just dressed up a little or just more of the DC drab attire. We left the event unimpressed and bored. So we're not eager to repeat the experience.

If only we were Cinderella and this was all a fairy tale...