My best friend says, "I think the day Daylight Cums was born was on October 31, 1989."  She was in beauty school, dressed as a zombie hairdresser, and I was dressed as Prince and was so pissed because everyone thought I was 
Whitney Houston!  I still wasn't out and I could handle being ambiguously sexy Prince but I wasn't strong enough to own the power of Whitney!!

My grandmother always told people that I was a born entertainer.  She said, "When he was three years old he got up in front of the swing band playing in the auditorium and faced everyone and started dancing for us all."  I remember that moment in my life; the thrill of the big band behind me driving my soul and my body across the floor as my feet lead the way.  I search for that sensation every day.

 The first time I ever attempted drag was my first year living in New York City, 56 and 9th Ave.  I still couldn't completely commit to drag so I called myself 'an androgynous kitchen queen.  I had a black sequined tube dress, my platform shoes, shaved body, and a head dress made from steel wool, chop sticks and Mardi Gras  beads.  I only wore it at home, I was too nervous to take my art out the door.

The year I moved back from NYC, 1996, I dressed as Dolly Parton.  I wore the same dress from my first Halloween (this time I stuffed my front with loaves of round bread from Danish Maid bakery and put a mushroom tip on top as a nipple and wrapped the whole thing in saran wrap- the bread was so soft to squish them in the wrap was so comforting), wore a huge blond wig and heels, long red nails and a swish.  Coming home to Astoria from my two years in NYC I was a big-ol-queen!  I know I always have been, but I was swish-a-rific!  That was my first coming out as an adult in my home town.  I still can feel the fear and excitement shaking through my body as I walked down to the party at the American Legion.  It was a magical night.

In 1997, I was doing a lot of choreography, teaching tap and trying to find myself through the happy hour drinks and cigarettes I would consume to try to silence the scream within my being to explode on to the scene and shine.  Each time I would muster up enough courage to speak my heart talk or allow my armor to soften and show my being, something would hold me back.  It was mostly myself.  I didn't want to offend anyone, or make people uncomfortable.  I already did that in my day to day life, my art would really make it difficult for me.
That year, I had my tap studio in the basement of the Elks and part of my rent was to help them do performances.  They asked me to put a drag show together for them, the officers would be the queens and I would direct/choreograph the show.  It was awesome!  Rehearsals were so fun and watching the nerves dissolve as the weeks went by was a beautiful thing to behold.  The best part was that the show was on the same evening as my 10 year class reunion.  How perfect was that!!!  I asked the sexiest man I knew to be my date to the prom and the show and he played it up the whole evening, so much I longed for it to be true (wink). 
At the show, the person that was to do the Madonna number chickened out, so I had to go on and that marked the first drag performance I did in Astoria.

2001 I returned to school.  I moved to Eugene and got my Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Oregon.  I went to school on a quest for credibility for my ar; a craving to have an education, to be able to teach, to share and to help others find their art.  The six years I spent there have formed me and given me a strong foundation to stand up and express through my art without question or restraint.

For me, Daylight Cums has always been shining in my soul, encouraging me to find my way, to find my strength to stand tall as a queen and ascend to the throne she was born for.  On my 40th birthday, I held a Karaoke/Lip sync competition; asking my friends to come and perform with me and have a party.  Daylight first showed her shy face that night lip syncing to Barbara Streisand's "somewhere" dressed in a Kimono and big Geisha wig.  That night was a strong Barbara night.  I also did my acapella remix of a few of her songs starting with "Papa, can you here me...." That fluttering pushed me.  

The next year, I did another show.  I had auditions and my family came into existence.  We rehearsed twice a week and put a show together.  Then, we did another show... Each one, I stepped closer to Daylight Cums.  And Halloween 2012, Daylight had her debut in New Orleans, parading through the streets of the city fluttering for all to see and bringing the dance, the party and the hugs to any that would ask.

Dragalution began January 2013!!!! I formed my family of queens, male and female/ gay and straight.  We are on this journey together.  I feel like  I have arrived!!!  My quest is clear. 

The most amazing moment of my life was the Regatta Parade last weekend!  i was so nervous going into it.  What was I thinking putting a drag float in the parade!  I flashed back and forth between the yells of hatred I get and the yells of love I get.  Love always wins out.  I refuse to ever let my fear show.  I knew I had to shine and walk with grace and beauty.  I had to be in the moment to allow Daylight her moment and let her walk through the parade with the banner bearers carrying our banner of President's Trophy!!!!!  And the love that was given as we danced and fluttered through the street of Astoria, the streets I had known so much fear on, in 6 inch heels, gold sequins and pink opalescent Isis wings.  The most glorious day I have ever know.
The unfolding has begun.  Let us dance and live and grow together!!
I am going to keep sharing and listening and moving forward, down the path. Let's shine......Let's find our IndepenDANCE.