Playful Oak Dance

I feel like I was able to realize a dream today…  I got to appear AS A BELLYDANCING MERMAID– AT PRIDE, IN THE PARADE THIS AFTERNOON!! XDXDXDXD  No more seeking to combine dreams- I actually got to make it happen! XDXD  The Portland Bellydance Guild asked a few local dancers to take part in Pride as part of another group’s float (since they weren’t able to round one up in time this year- but will hopefully be doing their own next), and since THAT float’s theme was “The Love Boat,” I asked the leader if I could come flip tail as part of the event, and he said YES!!! XDXD  So no lie, no joke, I got to WEAR MY TAIL TODAY AS PART OF A PORTLAND PRIDE FLOAT/DISPLAY!!! XDXDXDXD  

My knee was recently injured so I couldn’t get up onto the actual boat that was being towed, but as a mer I also happen to have a wheelchair (or two) and have been using that in the last week due to my injury, so I just incorporated that into the presentation and became a bellydancing mermaid on wheelz! XD  Next year I am to ride on the float, or walk if there’s no room, but I was grateful as BEANS to be able to ride in my chair, in tail, and have a pusher, ‘cause when I wasn’t bellydancing from the top up and flapping my tail to the beat, I also got to whip out my rainbow fan veils- and the crowd totally LOVED IT! XDXD  As a fat, visually impaired (legally blind if VI doesn’t illustrate much to those not familiar with the term) performer who’s-always- had a huuuuuge inferiority complex, and who is CONSTANTLY nervous about/afraid of ridicule when going out- EVERY time I go out, I gotta tell ya– allllll the love and kindness, support and warmth that was showered on me today.. all the sweet words, hugs, bright, shining faces and compliments.. just lifted me up TO THE BRIM.  No.. overflowing- to the MOON and back! ^_^  

-And on top of allll that (not to mention all the sweathearts who halped me at various times when I was stuck in my wheelchair in-tail), when I had transformed into land garb (bellydance/mermaid inspired silver garb COVERED in spangles and bling), MIMI IMFURST from RuPaul’s Drag Race got on stage, commented on how beautiful the audience was, and the COMPLIMENTED ME personally!!! O.O  She went on for a moment about how beautiful I was, and then told the audience to look at me and see how beautiful I was, and that just.. blew me away!!  So that on top of alllll the sweet words, the teen boy who said I was “everything he ever wanted to be when he grew up” I just.. I feel like I’m filled up.. like I’m glowing…. XDXDXDXD

So thank you SOOOOOOO MUCH to everyone who attended Pride today and helped make it magnificent!!  There was SOOOOOO MUCH LOVE there today, and that’s the way it should be EVERYDAY, yanno???  My heart so deeply needed this.. and I cannnnnot possibly express how unbelievably grateful I am for every, teeny, tiniest drop of it. XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD  

Love to each and every one of you tonight, and to eveyone who celebrates, HAPPY PRIDE!!!

Redecorated my wheelchair & now I’m a fairytale