Is there a small thing that you’ve really regretted? I don’t mean big things, but those little chances you passed up and now regret?
In my last Book Blurb Friday post, I mentioned a character who was a female impersonator. This reminded me of the time I passed up attending a “Miss Drag Queen” contest. It was held after the bars closed. I opted not to go because my children were young then and I was perpetually tired in those days. But now I have to ask myself what tiredness is compared to an opportunity like that. Throughout all of the years since, I’ve thought of that as one of the adventures I’m most sorry I passed up in life, because how often does a straight Midwestern suburban mom—especially one who writes—get to attend a drag queen pageant? And this was in Omaha, so it was in fact a Nebraskan drag queen pageant. Let’s face it: life just doesn’t get much better than that.
I had gone to a party with my sister, who is involved in community theatre. The party was held by two gay men who hadn’t come out until after both were married with children. So they divorced their wives and began a less traditional blended family with about five children between them, sort of like the Brady Bunch, only with a male Carol. Very cool party, too—they had a mini-amusement park set up for the children and a mini gambling casino set up for the adults. Gamboling and gambling, ar ar.
Anyway. Is there anything in life you passed up and now regret?
I have been sitting here for the last 15 minutes, trying to think of something I wish I had done, but all the things that I thought I would regret not doing no longer mean anything to me. I guess life is just like that sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThere are things I wish I had SAID to some of the people in my life. In playing out the conversations in my head, though, I don't think anything really positive would have come out of it.
I loved your book blurb, by the way, but failed to tell you that when I left a comment.
Oh, yes, you should definitely have gone!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't in the habit of saying 'no' very often, so most of my regrets are big ones, like not joining an exercise class while I was still healthy enough to exercise.
One thing I did, which perhaps I shouldn't have done, was a long time ago, when foolish people still picked up hitchhikers and lived to tell the tale.
I was driving from the suburbs into Vancouver, BC, to see "Fiddler" at Theatre in the Park, when I saw two girls hitchhiking. I thought "Silly girls" because I was pushing 30, so I picked them up. I had a very small car, so one got into the back seat and one got into the front. I looked at their makeup and thought "Oh, no, they look like hookers."
As I drove off, with my window partially open, the one in the back asked me to close it. "Oooh, the wind is ruffling up my hair!" They weren't hookers, they were drag queens.
So I told them I'd drop them off because I knew where they were headed. There was only one street in Vancouver where they'd want to go, and it was on my way to the park. Then I tried making conversation with them for 45 minutes. It was impossible, because they kept checking hair and makeup (their own and one another's) and giggling.
It was an experience, that's for sure!
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
No, I can't really think of anything I passed up. Some, I probably should have. Let's just say Strassenfest, bucket of beer, long lines at the Port-A-Potties, creative urination location.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a drag queen contest, but I am no stranger to gay bars. It's kind of a given when you live with a lesbian couple for a year. Mine was in Springfield, Missouri, right across from Evangel College. Which is ALMOST as good as an Omaha Drag Queen Pageant.
When I was a teenager my older sister went with some friends to Club Imperial to listen to Ike and Tina Turner. I wish I could've gone with her.
ReplyDeleteDonna v.
More things I wish I'd passed up, then I wouldn't have the regrets.
ReplyDeleteOMG, ROFL!!! Can't say that I regret missing anything but then I have never been to Omaha. I do love drag queens though, use to live next door to two. I honestly wonder where they buy their heels? Heels bigger enough to hold an entire bottle of champagne. :D
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
My brain tends to delete regrets, which is a good thing since I tend to be on the wimpy side. Just not much of a risk taker at all.
ReplyDeletePat
Cant say I regret any little missed opportunities... everything in my life has happened for a reason.
ReplyDeleteLike the time I decided not to go to a party with an old friend, which was a good thing considering it got busted that night for underage drinking.
Hmmm...the little things I don't beat myself up about. The big things...*sigh*...those leave bruises.
ReplyDelete