What does one wear to:

[size=7]Hi, Amigo. The secret: no one is normal. Carry on. Chin up.[/size]

If you've never seen male ballet dancers in feathered pants, let me just say.....you're not missing anything.

I was snowed in there for three weeks in a hotel. I thought I was in the shining.No, I guess not.

Amigo, what are you saying, that I didn't give k enough advice about tacky? Honey, you should come to New Mexico for tacky. Now that I'm older, I have come to love anything shiny, glittery, big earrings and, yes, tacky. Freedom!

You should come to SF someday, we'll show you tacky!!

Anon

Ok.... a couple points. At small theatre venues, you don't want to wear anything too flashy because you don't want to upstage the actors. AND, you don't want to wear anything to flashy to a Ryan Landry show or he just might lambast you as you sit, shriveling into your folding chair.

The show was brilliant. I have only seen two Landry shows, as of yet, but I will be seeing as many more as I can.

Death of a saleslady was much along the same lines as Death of a Salesman (I never did see the original play), except that the salesperson was a woman and she had 2 grown daughters. One daughter was a slut and the other a dyke. The husband was in a wheelchair. AND, it was wickedly funny.

The saleslady's mind was going downhill fast and was halucinating, among other things, a sexy bikini-clad man.

Still the story was sad and poignant. My bro had been feeling down and was looking forward to being cheered up. He wasn't. And then he found out his first boyfriend may be dead now.

Interesting night all around. Wonderful play.

Well, littlek, at least this sounds like it had its funny, upbeat moments (unlike the original Death of a Salesman).

At least you weren't subjected to a play I once saw in an off-off-off Broadway production called "Dance With Death."

The title pretty much speaks for itself. Depressing? A drunken Eugene O'Neill at three o'clock in the morning would have been more upbeat...I can't remember the playwright's name....let's hope for his sake nobody does....

Sorry your brother's feeling down. I hope he feels better soon.

Stray - he has had depression forever. Right now he thinks no one came to see the play with him because they think he's boring. In reality, the thought of seeing this particular play on an extremely cold night probably made his friends run for the warmth of their beds.

Yes, it really is cold all over the northeast tonight!

I'm sure you've already heard this suggestion, littlek, but has your brother tried to get some counseling?

It sounds like he tends to think everything is his fault. A good counselor could help him see things differently.

I had some counseling a few years ago. One time, my therapist asked me if I thought he seemed distracted during our session. I hated to say anything, but I did think he seemed distracted and inattentive. I thought I must be boring him.

He told me he'd had trouble sleeping the night before due to back trouble. It had nothing to do with me. He pointed out to me that I was quick to accept the blame for things -- and that all too often when others seem distracted, restless or uninterested -- it has more to do with them that it does with us. We can never tell what's going on with other people.

That's one of the benefits of good counseling -- it helps us to realize that we are not always the cause of everything happening around us.

Oh yeah, he's had decades of counseling and a variety of anti-depressants.

I'm glad your counseling worked so well!

Thanks, littlek, but I probably need to get some more!

I hope your brother can find something that will work better for him.

Me too, Straycat. I worry about him.

I'm glad you decided on something simple to wear.
Less distracting for the actors.

Has your brother ever gone on a cruise, l'k? I recently heard good things about an all-gay cruise from a co-worker. Almost made me wonder if I could pass.

Anan, sweetie, I lived in SF for three years during the 60's, in the Haight/Ashbury. You know I know tacky!

What's happening with me is a letting go of longtime inhibitions--to much time living in straight-laced Connecticut. It's good to be back in the land of primary colors.

Littlek, the play sounds wonderful; I'd love to see it if it ever comes to ABQ.

Really sorry to hear of your brother's depression. My medication works pretty well, but for awhile, the psychiatrist was beginning to think that I was what is called a, "non-responder." It took most of a year to find a combination that worked. It's a good thing I was able to last that long before going into a deep depression.

Depression is so hard on the family because you feel that you should be able to cheer him up or do something that will really help. Knowing you a litte, from a few Boston meetings, I know you are a kind, gentle, nurturing lady. He is lucky to have you.

Ah yes, those magic moments! I remember them ... oh so well

Anon

Well, I don't remember all of those magic moments, for the obvious reasons....

I didn't say I remembered them all

Anon

I dunno what he'd think about an all-gay cruise. I'm sure he's heard of it, though.

Thanks for your concern, Diane. I think that he and I have very similar issues and perspectives on ourselves. It's sort of scary how much we think alike. Our other two siblings seem to be more different. The biggest emotional/spychological difference between my brother and I is that he gets much more depressed than I. For whatever reason. So, we can sort of check each other when the other one goes too far down a stupid thought process. I think I was able to convince him that his friends didn't come out because the play is depressing and the temps were in the single digits - not because they thought he was boring. <eye roll>.

I haven't spoken with him today. Maybe I should call.... maybe tomorrow.

How'ed the outfit go over?

Amigo, I was in a gay bar with extragavent queen actors and a room full of gay men - no one noticed me at all....