My Folks

Today would have been Dad's 87th birthday. He passed away 13 months ago. Mom passed away in 1989 at age 64.

I just want to share how strange and awesome they were. *g*

My parents hung out together at strip clubs and gay bars. Yeah, raise your hand if you can say that about your parents! They once heard that a stripper was ill in the hospital and visited her. They were FAMILY after that. Strippers are young people far from home in many cases, and having a married couple expressing a little bit of caring was a gift to them. Mom received Mother's Day cards for years.

I was a little too young for much of their heyday, but I did get to have breakfast once with the owner of a strip club when I was in high school, and I had my own jacket with my name on it from his club. *giggles* Some of my teachers were impressed! One stripper in particular "adopted" my folks, and when I got to meet her we were automatic sisters. I remember playing my piano lesson for her.

I remember one Mother's Day where I was in a strip club with my parents and it was Amateur Night. The bartender was trying to entice us into a mother-daughter act. Mom said: "There's not enough brandy in the world."

Did I forget to mention Mom's Penthouse subscription? *g*

I'm absolutely positive that Mom would've loved my slashy fanfic. Or at least the thought of it, because I'm not sure I would've ever given her a link! Dad knew about it, though. As my nephew once said: "We're all into porn. I watch it, Grandpa reads it, and you write it!"

Ah, I miss the chance to share things with them. *sighs*