It all really began this past week as we got the sound equipment in the theater and all of the members of our show gathered for our first run through Monday night. I had hopes that what I had assembled would be all I had pictured it to be and my dreams were satisfied beyond measure. I love the rehearsal process, watching each of us find our footing through our nerves and excitement so that we can bring the best we have forward the night of the show!!
The day of our show, I went down early and made the 'Drag Queen Punch' and Jeanine and I did some last minute cleaning and planning before our final dress.
The excitement was building!!! After the final run, Sari and I took a drive out to the beach to do our New Year ritual; after many attempts, we found a spot that wasn't too windy for our lighter and we burnt away. It was a strong reflection of the year: so many things heaped on and loaded tight and all we can do is find the patience, shelter and courage to stay the course to completion. Together we are all stronger.
I was made so aware of that at the show.
I got home in time to make some veggies and rice and begin the transformation into Daylight Cums, Queen for the evening. David and I had been working and reworking my hair for a month to get it to be the vision of perfection I was wishing for. We nailed it!!!
At 7:30, the pre-party house guests arrived for some cheer befor the Glamtram came to pick us up at 8:30. We had drinks and smoke and many photos!!!
Then, it was time to go!! We all boarded the Glamtram and rode into town with Vogue dancing us through the streets. I always have to swing by the Supper Club, to see T and the girls, it is tradition!! Love them all so much!!!
My heart is a flutter, I'm so nervous because this show is so personal and heartfelt and I wanted to be able to be my authentic self on stage, and sometimes ego likes to get in the way...and my mom was coming and that meant more than I could let on, because I needed to keep it together until after the show.
It was so cold, we opened the doors early. Our newly formed Lower Columbia Q Center had our table set up with information and joy to share and I stood by the door and got to greet everyone as they entered!!
I was wrapped so beautifully in hundreds of embraces!! The thing that grabbed me about the gathering was how much childhood family and friends and Astoria locals were there and my friends that traveled from Portland and beyond to be there with us!!!! Aaron and Vince and the Roman clan, Colleen and Kevin, Vicki and Dave, Nicholas and Shane!! Becky Becky Becky!!!!! Ryan and Jorge, the three of us celebrating our 3 year anniversary of friendship!!!! Scott and Michael Foster!! Sari and Dean!!!! Dana and Grim! Steven and Lisa!!!The names keep on going and going!!! Briony behind the lense and Josh, Steven, Damien and Marine dancing along!!!
Backstage, before the show, we formed a circle and soaked up the love and excitement and grounded ourselves into the moment so that we could step on the stage in our truth and bring you the show we want to send into the New Year! Having Mags and Shay performing with me again!!! My heart:) Summer finally taking the stage! Suzi joining us with her skills and finesse!! Kim, Andrea, Jessamyn, Josh, Dinah and David!!! Jeff on sound!!!! Dan on lights, River and Jeanine. Sofie!! Bryan and Tara!! Josh Baer at the bar!! My Jell-O shot gals: Alison, Sarah, Kendra, Sofie! GRETCHEN! And the mistress of the balcony, Norma!!!!
Showtime!!!!
We take the stage, fans out, lights and music go..."let me entertain you...."
I can't even begin to describe the feeling of being up there and feeling the support!!
I mentioned how we were going to take all of the pains and joys and frustrations and challenges from this past year and release them with every clap and cheer so we can make room for the path of this new year. My mom delivered them to me when she jumped up to hug me. That moment has been replaying in my soul. The tears that have been flowing.... I'm getting ahead of myself.
After the opening number, Jared took to the stage and started us on the path to amazing music and song!!!! I sat next to mom and she grabbed her tissue to wipe the tears from my face, which just about brought on more tears. Next up, we had the wonderful Martin charm us with his voice!
Then, Teri Yuki and Ginger Vitus took to the stage and performed their song!!! So proud of those two!! And, I turned over the microphone to my co-hostess, Dida!! Can not even begin to express my gratitude and joy at having her on the stage with us!!! Seriously.
Aleesha warmed our hearts with her song and Daric rocked us out of our seats as he filled the room with his song! Jessamyn and I lead us to intermission with the dance she choreographed for us!!!
Act 2, had me nervous. The death of butterfly. It was poetic in many ways.
Sen had asked me to perform some arias from Madame Butterfly, and I asked him if we could do it for the show. This was a challenge for me. Learning to sing the songs in Italian so that I could convey the tragic story. I have always been quite fan of opera, and this seemed the perfect way to share it with the community. Then, into the Butterfly Fleet video!! Thank you Tyler Little!!
Sofonda Dykes took the stage with her Goldfinger and Zora Backdoora and Bustin Cherry sang 'baby it's cold outside' as we did a pass the hat for the warming center!! We raised $650 for them!!!! Thank you!
Dida sang her final song and welcomed our special guest to the stage, Marco!
He hasn't performed in almost 7 years! He has allowed me to take center stage and hasn't complained once and as a gift, I allowed him to perform because it meant so much to him!!
He stood up there in his gold glittered tipped feather coat and talked about his throat chakra and how this year has been about his voice and his truth and he worked on a song to share with us. He sang 'My Way' a song his mom had been wanting him to sing for years.
The crowd loved him right then, everyone was on their feet at the end and then the most unexpected and beautiful thing happened:
Mom jumped up from her seat with tears down her face and grabbed me in an embrace of such total love and acceptance that the whole room felt it and within that hug she had given me everything we had bee releasing from the year and I accepted it into my heart, wiped my tears and we gave you one last family bow and one last big finish dance number withTAP!!!!! And I soared away and took to the heavens with all that love and pain and joy and sorrow and I opened myself to the heavens and allowed it to release and the stars soaked it up and I shimmered in their beauty as I gently floated back to earth so much stronger and more grounded than I have ever felt.
I can not even begin to express my gratitude for all that you all do for me!!! I love more deeply and honestly because of you.
And mom, I can not even tell you how much you being there and celebrating with us meant not only to me, but the rest of the community as well. You are the mother of the year according to more than just me!!! I love you!!
As we wander through this New Year, let us all keep in mind the support we all shared for each other and bring that to our daily lives and continue to blossom in the amazing community most know as Astoria, and we know a home!!Completely yours,
Daylight
that was one awesome birthday gift thank you for letting us enjoy Daylight Happy New Year
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ReplyDeleteI can't see through the tears to hardly finsh this read. I love you! That night was nothing but magical. We are lucky to have you guide us through these journeys. I have been on stage hundreds of times. But nothing compares.
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