Most of my gay life, I've heard about the color parties, all over the place. Black parties, white parties. And, I've never been to one. Well, until Friday.
I'm a bit behind, because I've internetless, for a week or so. So, this is day two of the amazing weekend of drag. After going home Thursday night, we drove back to Ogunquit on Friday afternoon. On the way we stopped at Starbucks on the interstate.
We arrived at Mainestreet again, with overnight bags and stuff. And, like the good drag husband I am, I did the majority of the transporting of suitcases and bags and makeup. As we were going to be spending the night, and I'm able to eat little of anything that can be found in the immediate vicinity due to a gluten allergy, I was sent shopping. But, before that, I was asked to pop open the wine for Shaunna Rai and Miss E'on. Only, we didn't bring wine glasses. So, wine in Starbucks cups it was.
When I got back from the store, faces were half put on, and I was getting excited. E'on had made Shaunna a Red Ribbon dress, and for months that's all I'd heard about, was how the dress was going to be amazing. So, I was excited to see it in person, with the face. (I'd already seen it in fittings.) And, finally, the faces were done, the bodies went on. I changed into my red pants and black shirt with red bow tie. Shaunna asked me to take some pictures before we left, so she could post one before the Red Party. (Little did I know, it was going to be one of the "most liked pictures I've ever taken, with over 100 likes.)
So, it was off to the Red Party, at the Front Porch. The Front Porch is a piano bar, practically across the street from Mainestreet. I think, years ago, when I was 18, I went there for dinner, once with some friends. Aside from that, I've only been there for the Red Parties. So, we get there, and there's a donation to get in. After all, this is a fund raiser for the Frannie Peabody Center. At the top of the steps, there is a photographer, who will take your pictures, for a donation, and immediately, the girls get pulled aside for photos with random strangers. And, I melt into the background for a few minutes, trying to stay out of the way of the waitstaff.
Shaunna recognizes Katie, who has been the contact for all the Frannie Peabody stuff for the weekend. The usual, "you look beautiful", and "that outfit is amazing", goes on. And, I'm offered a drink...which I take, because, let's face it, it's going to be a long night, and I barely know anyone here, and the girls are going to be mingling for quite some time. Especially, since there's another event at Mainestreet immediately afterward.
And, then, they're off. I spend a while just kind of standing in the corner, with some people who I actually know. I realize how few people I actually know anything about. And, I realize that at some point, I need to change my behavior, and try to be a little more social. In the 20 minutes or so that I spent with Mat, Doug and Patrick, I learned more about them than I have learned in the last year and a half that I've known them. Meanwhile, the waitstaff keep coming around with appetizers, that smell amazing. Unfortunately, they're all either flatbreads, or fried stuff with a breading on them. So, no appetizers for me.
The girls come back around, and then it's time for the auction. So, I get up front, and start taking pictures of the items, and the caller. I knew from last year, that this was going to be a weekend where money flowed freely. I was not prepared for the amount of money that was dropped at the auction. A massage went for like $600 or some crazy large amount. Murals that had been done specifically for the Front Porch, years ago, went for a minimum of $1000 each. One was almost $3000.
And, it's time to head back to Mainestreet. On our way out, we run into Joslyn Fox, who is there out of drag. And, same as the night before, he's super sweet, talking about how beautiful Shaunna is.
Once we get back to Mainestreet, the girls go back upstairs to readjust, and touch up. And, I take up my post at the corner of the Gaycation Magazine table. Before they go upstairs, Shaunna meets a lesbian couple, and introduces them to me. It turns out that they've been together for like 30 years, and been married for 8. They were very nice, and bought me a drink. And, we chatted for a while. They begged me to make sure that nobody roofied Shaunna's drink (since they'd bought one for her as well) and then had me keep an eye on their drinks as well, while they went out and danced.
Meanwhile, I get all in a bad head space, and decide that this life is not for me. I hate being shy. I hate having to be the guy behind the scenes. I want to just not be me anymore. I want to go home. I want to blend further into the woodwork, and disappear. When they came back down, people started asking to snap pictures with us...and for once, I actually get to be in the pictures, which is exciting for me. Why is this exciting? Well, because I'm always on the other end of the camera...by choice. But, it's nice, sometimes, to be able to prove that I was actually at an event.
Shaunna did a number. Karaoke happened. E'on performed while doing karaoke. The guys from Gaycation Magazine bought me a drink. (I later found out that it was because they thought I should loosen up, and thought that a drink would help me break the silence. )
The night ended for us, relatively early. The girls left before I did. I was still nursing my Cape Cod, at the Gaycation table. Shaunna gave me the perfect excuse to leave the drink, and head upstairs to go to bed. This was a moment for me. When we go out, I'm never alone, by design, for longer than a bathroom break. I needed to prove, after my headspace breakout, that I could do my own thing for a little bit. Of course, once the drink was gone, I booked it to bed. But, I managed to prove to myself that I could be happy doing my own thing and not needing to be entertained by anyone...even though I enjoy my people.
I'm a bit behind, because I've internetless, for a week or so. So, this is day two of the amazing weekend of drag. After going home Thursday night, we drove back to Ogunquit on Friday afternoon. On the way we stopped at Starbucks on the interstate.
We arrived at Mainestreet again, with overnight bags and stuff. And, like the good drag husband I am, I did the majority of the transporting of suitcases and bags and makeup. As we were going to be spending the night, and I'm able to eat little of anything that can be found in the immediate vicinity due to a gluten allergy, I was sent shopping. But, before that, I was asked to pop open the wine for Shaunna Rai and Miss E'on. Only, we didn't bring wine glasses. So, wine in Starbucks cups it was.
When I got back from the store, faces were half put on, and I was getting excited. E'on had made Shaunna a Red Ribbon dress, and for months that's all I'd heard about, was how the dress was going to be amazing. So, I was excited to see it in person, with the face. (I'd already seen it in fittings.) And, finally, the faces were done, the bodies went on. I changed into my red pants and black shirt with red bow tie. Shaunna asked me to take some pictures before we left, so she could post one before the Red Party. (Little did I know, it was going to be one of the "most liked pictures I've ever taken, with over 100 likes.)
So, it was off to the Red Party, at the Front Porch. The Front Porch is a piano bar, practically across the street from Mainestreet. I think, years ago, when I was 18, I went there for dinner, once with some friends. Aside from that, I've only been there for the Red Parties. So, we get there, and there's a donation to get in. After all, this is a fund raiser for the Frannie Peabody Center. At the top of the steps, there is a photographer, who will take your pictures, for a donation, and immediately, the girls get pulled aside for photos with random strangers. And, I melt into the background for a few minutes, trying to stay out of the way of the waitstaff.
Shaunna recognizes Katie, who has been the contact for all the Frannie Peabody stuff for the weekend. The usual, "you look beautiful", and "that outfit is amazing", goes on. And, I'm offered a drink...which I take, because, let's face it, it's going to be a long night, and I barely know anyone here, and the girls are going to be mingling for quite some time. Especially, since there's another event at Mainestreet immediately afterward.
And, then, they're off. I spend a while just kind of standing in the corner, with some people who I actually know. I realize how few people I actually know anything about. And, I realize that at some point, I need to change my behavior, and try to be a little more social. In the 20 minutes or so that I spent with Mat, Doug and Patrick, I learned more about them than I have learned in the last year and a half that I've known them. Meanwhile, the waitstaff keep coming around with appetizers, that smell amazing. Unfortunately, they're all either flatbreads, or fried stuff with a breading on them. So, no appetizers for me.
The girls come back around, and then it's time for the auction. So, I get up front, and start taking pictures of the items, and the caller. I knew from last year, that this was going to be a weekend where money flowed freely. I was not prepared for the amount of money that was dropped at the auction. A massage went for like $600 or some crazy large amount. Murals that had been done specifically for the Front Porch, years ago, went for a minimum of $1000 each. One was almost $3000.
And, it's time to head back to Mainestreet. On our way out, we run into Joslyn Fox, who is there out of drag. And, same as the night before, he's super sweet, talking about how beautiful Shaunna is.
Once we get back to Mainestreet, the girls go back upstairs to readjust, and touch up. And, I take up my post at the corner of the Gaycation Magazine table. Before they go upstairs, Shaunna meets a lesbian couple, and introduces them to me. It turns out that they've been together for like 30 years, and been married for 8. They were very nice, and bought me a drink. And, we chatted for a while. They begged me to make sure that nobody roofied Shaunna's drink (since they'd bought one for her as well) and then had me keep an eye on their drinks as well, while they went out and danced.
Meanwhile, I get all in a bad head space, and decide that this life is not for me. I hate being shy. I hate having to be the guy behind the scenes. I want to just not be me anymore. I want to go home. I want to blend further into the woodwork, and disappear. When they came back down, people started asking to snap pictures with us...and for once, I actually get to be in the pictures, which is exciting for me. Why is this exciting? Well, because I'm always on the other end of the camera...by choice. But, it's nice, sometimes, to be able to prove that I was actually at an event.
Shaunna did a number. Karaoke happened. E'on performed while doing karaoke. The guys from Gaycation Magazine bought me a drink. (I later found out that it was because they thought I should loosen up, and thought that a drink would help me break the silence. )
The night ended for us, relatively early. The girls left before I did. I was still nursing my Cape Cod, at the Gaycation table. Shaunna gave me the perfect excuse to leave the drink, and head upstairs to go to bed. This was a moment for me. When we go out, I'm never alone, by design, for longer than a bathroom break. I needed to prove, after my headspace breakout, that I could do my own thing for a little bit. Of course, once the drink was gone, I booked it to bed. But, I managed to prove to myself that I could be happy doing my own thing and not needing to be entertained by anyone...even though I enjoy my people.
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