The Day After Gay Days

Oh, the comfort—the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person—having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.  --Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, 1826 – 1887

So, I went to Gay Days yesterday.  I know you're all interested in what happened. 

Yes, I had a blast.

No, there were no hookups.
Yes, I'd recommend it to anyone.
No, I'm not unscathed--I'm quite hung over today.

I'd love to find a way to describe it.  It is like the most supportive parts of the Danskin triathlon, combined with the joy and freedom that comes with those most perfect vacations, combined with the confidence and pride that comes from that one day when you were skinny enough, had a good hair day and you had the cutest clothes on--all at the same time. 

The day started perfect with a 30 mile bike ride--9 of it with my three friends who are over 69!  One of them I helped get her new bike on Friday--so she could do a full triathlon.  How awesome is that!  I rode all the way downtown to meet them and back, so I had a long, long ride. 

Then my friends Nicki and Rachel went with me to the Gay Days sponsoring hotel and we got there around 2.  Here are some highlights:

• Our biggest priority was to get pictures for our friend--a 65 year old man who just came out about 2 months ago--who had to be out of town this weekend.  We went up to random strangers (cute ones) and told his story and asked if we could take their picture.  People were so generous.  And then one asked if they could do a video--we got videos of support and love.  We were making our friend's phone buzz with love, support and hilarity.  We got to share the evening with him and create a feeling and evening he'll never forget. 
• The expo was a whole lot of selling of random items, a little political activism and a lot of dog rescues.  But the highlight was the 18+ hall.  A bunch of leather, dildos, cock ashtrays (yes, you read that correctly).  And then the highlight--flavored lube that tastes so good that they were serving it over ice cream.  Yea, of course, I tried some!
• The pool parties were the focus of the hotel activities.  The women had their own pool, DJ and bar.  The highlight there was a couple--Diana and Heather.  They were between where we were seated and the bar.  So, of course, I was passing  by them often.  Every time I did, Diana made fun of me for being so covered.  I had a long sarong--the first time, she insisted that I fold it at least in half to show more leg.  The second time, she insisted that I take it off, and by the third time, she had me dancing with it in front of her.  The whole time, I'm looking at her wife Heather and making sure she's okay with this, at which she was just laughing hysterically.  Those two women made me feel beautiful, sexy and alive.  I met a beautiful woman named Jen who had wonderful words of encouragement for me whenever I start my journey. 
• There were women of ALL types and ages.  The hot, athletic 20-somethings up to the 60 year old very butchy women.  And, damn, they were all beautiful.  There really is a beauty to people who are relaxed, free and authentically themselves.  That is the main message I took from the day. 

We ended up getting a room, because all three of us were way to drunk to do anything else.  Who knows where I'll be next year at this time, but I'm thinking I'll want to get a room for the weekend and enjoy those delicious feelings for the whole weekend.

*For those of you reading this on an e-mail feeder, link to the blog page to see a few of the pictures and videos that we took for our friend.  Unfortunately, they're all of men because they were for him.  We didn't actually take any pictures of women, because we got to be there.  You'll have to join me next year to see them for yourself.