HOMETOWN DOG SHOW BLUES

Hanging out in Tacoma this past week has been lovely. Crocuses are up with their little saffron tongues poking out. They are so sassy. It is the time of year where the cold still gets in your bones, but if you stand in the sun for more than a minute you forget it’s ever been cold. That’s how the Northwest gets its hooks in people. It’s a real bait-and-switcher. I love it, so I  sometimes am compelled to tell rain-complainers to shut the fuck up. It’s how it’s supposed to be here – needly, micro blast, cold-ass rain on constant. They are the same people who complain that Arizona is too hot, so I don’t know why I bother. But I do take it personally. 

I take everything personally here. It’s my cocoon for crying out loud! My woobie! I’ve been here working for a solid week and I have had a lot of emotions! Big ones, little ones, chokey ones and smooth ones. I have had to drink a few Colas and eat a few burgers to soothe out the melange of feelings but it’s been worth it. It has also been delicious. The hotel has been nearly deserted but yesterday hundreds of dog shows rolled in for the Northwest Grooming Show! One minute crickets, the next minute every shape of topiary poodle ever to be clipped walked through the door on sparkly leashes. (By the way, if you want to meet Goths this is where you go. They seem to own the circuit. And I am so excited.) I feel like I’ve come home. (Which I actually have.) The only sad part is when the groomers and owners have to go eat something and the dogs howl in their hotel rooms. I know they are fine, they just know how to get me all manipulated, Disney-style.

The best thing that happened was I went to Girl Trouble’s 39th anniversary show at Real Art Tacoma about an hour after I rolled into town, which was overwhelming and AMAZING! I got there seconds before they took the stage. Everyone I ever knew, save maybe two or three who’ve passed on, were at the show and dancing. I was undercover in a mask with my hair up and no one recognized me, so I could watch like a fly on the wall but with better VR. I was pleased to be gently but firmly scooted aside to make way for old friends headed to the dance floor to lose their minds. ALL of them 7 to 70. There were old friends from Seattle and Olympia too. What a beautiful night. Girl Trouble were so good and KP, Girl Trouble’s lead singer was funnier than ever. It was so heavy to watch my drum idol Bon Von Wheelie serenely drumming away, ruling exactly the same as she always has (minus the silver hair) in the space she is meant to occupy 1000%. The post-show reunions were joyous and welcome. Is this what highschool reunions are supposed to be like? I’m glad I don’t know, but this version of hometown dog show blues has been pretty sweet.