Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Drag Queens....

Sometimes my life revolves around a certain theme for a little while. This theme could last for a week, a month or years. Right now, I have an interesting one.... drag queens/female impersonators.

Every which way I turn, I am pulled deeper into this culture. I am not complaining by any means, as it is a fascinating experience. Here are the following ways that these lovely ladies have been put in my life and what I have learned from them...

1) Presentation is everything!

I just finished reading a murder mystery novel called, 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' You probably have heard of it because it was on the NYTimes bestseller list for four years. If you are like me and lived under a rock for these four years, it takes place in Savannah, GA. Based off of true events, it showcases the Savannah culture and the self-made bubble that the citizens live in. One of the main characters is a black drag queen named Chablis, who performs nightly at a local bar. Chablis taught me that I need to honor my outward appearance more. In fact...true story.... I have painted my fingernails twice now in the last two weeks just because of her. Chablis makes me wish that I was more of a Southern belle. I really need to start walking around in bedazzled evening gowns, purring and calling people, 'Honey Child' and 'Sugar.' And drinking wine. Lots of it.

2) Confidence is key!!

Last weekend the husband and I watched a documentary called, 'Pagent.' It was about the annual Miss Gay America Pageant.  Before the movie, I had no idea that one existed, let alone that it has been around for 35 years. Watching this movie was incredibly inspiring because these ladies showed such confidence. I mean...really....I get down if I think my jeans are too tight. I can't even imagine what I would feel like if I had the body of a linebacker and I had to squeeze into a cocktail dress. But those ladies did it, and did it well. Made me feel like a baby for thinking I have cankles.

3) Have attitude!

Tuesday night, the Husband and I went to a local DC sports bar for drag queen bingo. Um yeah...drag queen, bingo and beer.... We were hooked. The two MC's were fierce ladies and they did not have a filter at all. The bar was packed and you had to elbow your way around the place. Despite the crowds, the moment the Husband and I walked in, they spotted him and called him to the stage/front. They asked him his name, his sexual orientation and then asked him to take off his shirt! The Husband being the great man that he is, laughed with the ladies, but declined to strip for them, much to their disappointment :)

Throughout the rest of the night, they claimed the Husband as their boyfriend, called him to the stage again for a beer chugging contest (which he won), and kept cat-calling him all night. It was a fantastic night and we laughed so hard the whole time. The only downside is that we didn't win the quesadilla maker. The Husband had his eye on it. I am sure he could have sweet talked his way into owning it.

The Ladies at Drag Queen bingo were not afraid to say it like they saw it. I think (actually I know) that I am way too timid and afraid to let me personality show through in social settings, but I need to take a few pointers from the lovely ladies at Nellies and be fierce!

If I run into any more drag queens, I will be sure to let you know and I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday!!

Just so you all know....I bake the most fabulous pecan pie in the entire world. And happily I found out yesterday that I also bake the world's best apple pie. Some people have all the luck :)