Anniversary and Freakshow

As many of you know from previous blogs of mine I have a paralyzed right arm. Among people that know me it is a non-issue but meet new people and you'd think it is the only thing anyone can possibly want to talk to me about. I don't have it in a sling or anything dramatically obvious. You can see from pics in my Photos section I wear a small splint and it just hangs normally-ish. And yet for the past 23 years, 95% of the people I meet it is usually the conversation opener they come up with...like they're the first people to ever ask me about my arm. Right.I don't really care anymore as I have gotten used to it over the years (well, at least most of the time). I deal with it by making one-arm jokes and things of that sort. I have a couple of friends that say they'd like to see me go just one day w/o bringing up my having one-arm but that's harder than it would seem since even if I don't talk about, EVERYONE else does! So getting to my story, last night I was invited to real live genuine Freakshow called 999 Eyes - a reference to an old-timey freakshow from back in the day when they had serious freakshows. My friend's Caberet troupe [Carousel Cabaret] was also performing so that was a definite incentive. Anyway, I decided I'd go check it out but, in the back of my mind, I was thinking maybe for once my one-armed situation wouldn't seem so curious. No matter how ridiculous this may sound it is the absolute truth. I can sum up my "that's what I get for thinking" with the following incident. At one point in the evening I was standing next to "Jackie of all trades" (a woman w/ an absolutely beautiful voice who just so happens to be only a torso and a foot) and midget (can I say that?) who was literally about a foot and a half tall and someone actually walked up to us looked right at me standing in between them an said "Wow, what happened to your arm?". REALLY?!!! I'm in between a midget and a half-woman and you're intrigued by my arm?! The really amazing thing is that person didn't ask what happened to the half-woman for her to end up that way or ask what it was like to be a midget. Trust me their stories are way more interesting than my little ol' arm. I know. I asked. (he he)I swear none of this is intended to sound bitter or angry. In fact, just the opposite, I think it is hilarious. Even at a true-blue freakshow, my malady is the topic of interest - Amazing. But I guess such is life. I do want to thank my friends Sick, fiddle player for the freakshow backup band "That Damned Band" and Raina, aka Lady Bangs, of Carousel Caberet for inviting me. And a very special thanks to Hallie, aka Ruby Joule, of the cabaret troup "The Jigglewatts" - an amazing beauty - you made the evening truly glamorous. And to everyone else out there, if you get the chance, go see the 999 Eyes Freakshow. A good time is guaranteed to be had by all!