Day 52 ~ Naughti Gras

Day 52 ~ Naughti Gras

Feb 21, 2014

My first: I attended Naughti Gras: a sultry delight for the senses.

A friend of mine sent me a text asking me if I wanted to attend Naughti Gras 7 in St. Louis. Well, how could I say no! It was going to be a “first” for me!

I went in thinking that it was “just” an art show of paintings and photography that was a little bit on the naughty side. And, oh it was…and more!

My innocent small-town eyes saw more “sultry delights” in one night than they have seen in all of my 61 ½ years. Just the “clientele” there was enough to witness. I met two young women in the bathroom…one an elementary Special-Ed teacher, the other a real-estate agent. Both were “kinky” clad. And both were openly sharing with me that they were indeed “kinky” and that this was the venue where they could be who they are…without judgment.

Then there was pole dancing by scantily-clad women AND men and burlesque dancing in its true form. I watched a contortionist and aerial artist do things that people should really NOT be able to do…ouch!

And, the epitome of the term “last but not least”, the human flesh suspension. I watched this event for some time as specially-trained individuals prepared a woman to be suspended by pulleys, bars, cables and HOOKS pierced into her flesh. Yes, there was blood. Yes, there were winces of pain on her face. I guess she finally reached that “Zen place”. As for me, I think I’ll just meditate, take a nature walk, or even read Eat Pray Love for the fourth time. But this activity will never be on my bucket list or on my “firsts” list for 2014. Besides, my skin is way too old for this…it would snap for sure! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

My recurring thought (or I might even call it a “presence”) throughout the evening was the traditionalism of my mom. I have at times been critical of my mom about how she is not and has never been very adventurous in her life. She has fixed her hair the same way for as long as I can remember. She has had the same friends for 50, 60, 70 years. She has made and still does make the same meals over and over. Her make-up consists of eyebrow pencil and blush. Pierced ears? Forget it! Wardrobe? High-water jeans, high necklines and about 3 or 4 basic colors. Need I go on? She drives me crazy! But last night, I “embraced” an amazing comfort from my “inside the box” mom. Thank God for people like my mom…thank God.

As the saying goes…“it takes all kinds to make up this world”. And I saw a “kind” last night! I guess it’s all about the balance, right? And that crazy sense of freedom they must have! I've felt it twice in my life and then I went on with my life…I've only “felt” it, you see; I've never acted on it. I STILL remember the feeling though and perhaps it helped me to understand or at least accept this, shall I say, “sexually-candid” life style.

And my last thought (whooh!) as I watched these young Gothic people “at work” is…what will they be like, what will they be doing, and who will they BE when they are 60, 70, 80? Because we know…youth is gone in a wink! And is it “wasted on the young”?