The Scribble Pad
The mental meanderings of a slightly loose screw.
JANUARY 09
Thursday January 29 - You go, Divas!
In a stunning reversal of my life of drudgery, I went out last night. Dressed up, would you believe, not in jeans.
I went to see the Divas show at Queen's Hall, a drag queen cabaret that comes around just once a year. Haven't been in years, and I was glad I did.
It was hilarious, touching, campy, over the top, and just plain fun. Trini men stuffed their stuff where the shun don't shine and stomped around in high heels, looking more gorgeous and feminine than I ever have in my life, blew kisses and belted out show tunes. Ma girl Tina Turner, crazy old Whitney, Glenn Close and Celine Dion stormed the hall and had us in stitches. I love drag queens; they're so crazy and outrageous and exuberant.
I was swept away by a wave of nostalgia, memories of a younger me who hung with a gay crowd, danced at gay parties and got advice on ditching my ratty old bras from drag queens. Oh yeah, as the only straight in a gay crew, I was a novelty, a mascot, and it was a wild and wonderful ride. I'm sure most people, especially my kids, would be shocked to know just how slammin' my nightlife used to be.
I looked around me in the audience, seeing old faces, reminiscing, but I don't regret the fact that I'm no longer hanging with the crew. Things change, and people wind up with more on their plate. I'm just too busy to party. But I'm glad I went through it, though. And gladder I went to the show!
Monday January 26 - Blessed, blessed 100
Just thought I'd come online and crow and shake my tail feathers. I just hit that magical 100 pages on my new work in progress.
Shake, shake, shake yuh bodyline...shake shake shake...
Hooray me!
Friday January 16 - Yackety Yak
I got a call yesterday, like a bolt from the blue (oh, God, cliché!), from my old editor at the Trinidad Guardian. She's moved to the Express, and wants me to try out for a column in the Sunday paper.
Now, if memory serves (another one! I need a nap!), I haven't written a column in about eight years. Granted, I've been toying with the idea for more than a year now, but just haven't had the courage of my convictions to actually take a step towards it.
I mean, I'm not 30 anymore, vain and brash and bold and convinced that everyone wants to hear what I have to say. I had opinions, goddammit, and you damn well better listen to them. But with the advent of gray hair and motherhood and impending old age, maybe I got a little soft. I no longer feel compelled to tell people, in great detail, exactly how stupid I think they are.
Not a good position, for a columnist! Anyway, I've said yes, at least to a trial, so we'll see how that goes. Here's to one more trip around the block, folks!
Thursday January 8 - Recognition's da bomb!
We writers got an ego on us; there's no doubt about that. We all crave the heady, self-affirming pleasure of seeing our names, if not up in lights, at least on the cover of a book, preferably right under the heading "National Bestselling Author".
But it's strange (although kind of nice) to have people recognise you outside of a bookstore. Yesterday I was at the bank, depositing a cheque, when the teller looks up and asks, "Are you the writer?" Then she want on to tell me how much she loved my books, and even called a friend, who's also read a few. The second lady even remembers Night Heat, my first Arabesque, published 10 years ago!
Man, that made my whole day. 24 hours later, I'm still grinning. I may not be a household word - yet - but I'm not drowning in obscurity, either.
And that's good to know.
Wednesday January 7 - Back in the saddle, all relaxed and happy
First official day of work, i.e. the first day my children are back to school, leaving me my study to myself once again.
Strangely enough, last year I had been dreading the school vacation. First of all, all I could think about was the fact that I'd not be able to work for three weeks. Second, I've never had an entire vacation with my children. They're usually off to school, or with the babysitter while I work. So understandably, I was a little nervous. Would they drive me crazy? Would I be a quivering wreck at the end of all this?
But what a wonderful time we had, discovering each other. We played and talked and went to the library. We went Christmas shopping, and for the first time in a long time, this Grinch actually enjoyed it.
It's good to be back at my desk, and to be honest, that's got me a little anxious, what with all my expectations for myself, but I had a happy Christmas, and I have my children to thank for that.
