Rae Theodore's Blog, page 7
March 24, 2017
To ‘sir’ with love
[image error]Rachel Maddow is my spirit animal.
Last week, she was interviewing a congressman on her TV show. At the end of the interview, she says, “thank you, sir.”
The congressman responds in kind. “Thank you, sir,” he says. “I mean, ma’am,” he quickly corrects.
“It’s alright, I answer to both,” she says without missing a beat.
I bow to Maddow.
I wish I was quick on my feet. It’s probably why Rachel Maddow has a TV show and I don’t. But whatever.
[image error]Sometimes I don’t mind being called “sir.” Other times i...
March 16, 2017
Assorted butch news and other stuff
“And this gentleman is?”
He arched one eyebrow so it pointed directly at me.
I found myself crafting this response in my head: I’m not a gentleman.
But then I couldn’t say those words, because I pride myself on being a gentleman.
“My name is Rae,” I said, leaving him to figure out the rest.
[image error]It’s the hair. I haven’t been misgendered for a long time. Then blam. My hair becomes too long to spike up and sits on top of my head like a lid. There’s a bit of an overhang. It’s like having a little roo...
March 2, 2017
Today I’m a 50-year-old boy
I turn 50 today.
It’s weird because most days I feel like a kid. A young boy somewhere in the age range of 12 to 17.
[image error]Sir, I’ve been reading this great blog called The Flannel Files.
Most people I know say they don’t feel like adults either. Which means we’re all living in a giant Peanuts cartoon. No adults for miles–just an occasional wah wa-wah in the distance. You can call me Peppermint Patty. Or sir. Take your pick. Even though this lesbian doesn’t rock sandals.
W is throwing me a big pa...
February 9, 2017
Leaving the center empty for God
[image error]I’m still reading Maggie Nelson’s memoir The Argonauts. This story about Nelson’s relationship with her “fluidly gendered partner” Harry takes a look at the hot button topics of sexuality, gender and what it means to be a family.
It’s been taking me longer than usual to get through this slim book of less than 150 pages. It’s a heavy read, packed with thoughts and insights that seem best suited for slow, meditative pondering.
In the pages I read last night, Nelson writes about a lecture she...
February 7, 2017
Be a superhero and say something nice
[image error]I’ve been having a rough go of it lately.
I either want to stay in bed with the covers pulled up over my head, or I want to run through the streets in my flannel-lined cape punching bad guys in the face and saving the world. Biff! Pow!
Then out of the blue, two people sent me e-mails and told me they had been impacted in a positive way by things I had written.
And I felt better. Calmer. A little bit like a superhero with a magic pen making the world a better place in a different way.
So, my p...
February 2, 2017
Telling the truth
Yesterday was not a good day for your favorite butch blogger. I pretty much sat around in my pajamas clicking the refresh button on my Twitter feed. It was not pretty or handsome.
[image error]But then W came home and I vented. I started Maggie Smith’s The Argonauts before I went to bed. And I was like hell yeah, because words and ideas and poetry and unapologetic truth telling. The world needs more of that right now, if you ask me.
And then I started thinking about #PressOn, which is a campaign to suppor...
February 1, 2017
Light and love
Just this for today:
“Don’t be oppositional, be transformational. Don’t let them bait you or scare you. Don’t react to the darkness, just respond with the light.”
— Marianne Williamson
January 31, 2017
Compassion dammit
I can’t sleep at night. I’m up worrying about what’s happening in my country. I keep reading tweets in my feed until there are no more new ones. Then I refresh the top news stories. I switch back and forth between Twitter and the news until there is nothing new to see and it’s as safe as it’s going to be to go to sleep.
I had my writer’s group today and we wrote to the prompt of “hope.”
“I hope the world doesn’t end tonight when I close my eyes and pull up the covers,” I wrote.
Everyone laugh...
January 29, 2017
Political Speech by Rae Theodore (Plus a FREE book!)
Happy Sunday! Today we’re joined by Rae Theodore (Middle Age Butch). She’s talking about the need for political speech, especially for writers, an important message that we should all give some thought to, now more than ever.
And, as an extra bit of awesome, Rae is giving away a copy of her book, Leaving Normal: Adventures in Gender. Winner’s choice of ebook or paperback. Drop a comment in the space below and we’ll draw the winner on Friday, February 3rd.
Good luck!
Politica...
January 25, 2017
No apologies
[image error]Tired of feeling unworthy
I ate an entire carton of blackberries
$3.99 a pop
In the middle of today
Withno apologies
To you
Or anyone
Not even the President
I didn’t carethat the fruit stained my fingertips purple
Marking me like a thief
As I plucked each piece from the plastic box and
Plopped it in my mouth
* * *
What are you unapologetic for today?
