Arisia and Baggage

Recently, I attended a day at Arisia in Boston.  It is a fantasy and sci-fi convention that I have never attended before.  My attendance was short; only a half day on Saturday, but I learned a lot.  I decided when I arrived to go to a panel I wouldn't normally have attend; transgender in scifi/fantasy fandom.  I sat, listened, and took in as much as possible.  However, the biggest thing that I learned was from one member of the panel who spoke to the struggles people face as they go through life.

She explained that what made her experience at the convention so amazing was that we were all essentially there to be dreaming of and experiencing worlds that are better than our present.  She explained this by saying that most people have baggage.   Once you cross 30 or so, you realize everyone has baggage at that point.  With that burden comes a tendency to drift to different worlds of fantasy in which we find solace.  I couldn't have agreed more.  Life is tough, and sometimes we need a safe place.

However, let me be clear, folks.  This inspiring explanation was not strictly referring to escapism.  It was, in a way, actually bringing to life the idea that we're not JUST trying to escape.  Rather, we are all trying to grasp at the worlds we want to see manifest in our lives today, or in the future.  There is a great difference between escapism and envisioning a better life.  Sure, I enjoy submersing myself in a fantastical story about times and places I don't know, or a great film that wraps me up in an unknown reality.  But, behind all that, is the realization that I have some scars that I can use to my advantage to bring forth a better world.  You have this capability, too.

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness."  -James Thurber

Everyone carries around baggage as if we're all walking around the airport of our lives trying to find the right gate.   I think that if we carry it with us into our future, we can use what we've packed away to help us.  We can look forward in awareness.  After all, it gets better.  Just don't forget a towel.

Hair gets longer

I don't know exactly why I saved 'Hair gets longer' as a title for a post a few weeks ago.  I often make a post title, and save it as a draft.  Then I can go back when I have time to write a full post about the idea that sprang to mind.  I've never really forgotten what any title I saved refers to, except for now.  I have NO idea what 'Hair gets longer' means.

Was I trying to reassure myself that my hair will grow longer after some jerk chopped it this summer?  I found out the hard way that 2" apparently means 8" at the salon I went to last August.  I'm still bummed because I would have donated my hair if I knew it was being hacked off.

Was I possible posting about my new dye job I got before New Year's Eve?  I love the color.  I was also a lot less traumatized because a good bit of the length had grown back since the August Attack.  The girl only trimmed my front bangs and reshaped a bit of my layers around the face.  The rest, she told me, was in good shape.

So let's see...I'm still bewildered at what 'Hair gets longer' means.  Maybe it has nothing to do with hair.  Do you have a theory?  What do you think I meant?

Mini fans at the Superbowl

I was invited over to my friend's place for the Superbowl.  Since the Patriots weren't playing, I wasn't too interested and hadn't even planned anywhere in particular for watching the game.  After my friend enticed with me with tacos, I couldn't refuse.  Wine in hand and fuzzy slippers in my bag, I soon found myself watching my friend's roommate slice and dice up a delicious guacamole and salsa verde.  After gorging on two or three tacos and about a pound of avacodo, the half time show arrived.

Coldplay came on first, and stunk.  That's all I'm going to say for him(them?).  Next, Beyonce graced us with her presence, being ever wonderful and sassy.  Or was it Sasha Fierce?  I don't know.  Third to pop up from behind his piano was little Bruno Mars.  He was undoubtedly the best performer.  He is a greater performer because you can easily watch his love of the performance shine through.  It reminds me much of Michael Jackson.  They both radiate with their joy of dancing, singing, and performing.  It is abundantly clear and visible on their faces and in the movement of their bodies, every moment!

Anyway, the performance was wrapping up and all three artists came together to belt out the last few moments of the song.  Everything seemed to fade away on the TV screen, except for one thing.  Hair.

Beyonce's hair was moving, nay, flowing.  No one else seemed to have a fan or breeze pointed at them, but here she was, locks waving away as if they were waving to a crowd from a parade float.
What the heck?  Does she have mini fans attached to her shoulders?  I can't figure it out.  Well played, Sasha Fierce.  Your hair is fierce and flowing.