This is a story I don’t often talk about. But, I have been reflecting on my brief encounter with mother Dolly, since her passing. I have different versions depending on how I feel, or how long I believe the person or persons attention span or time may be. There’s the cliff notes version, the short version or the full enchilada. Then the other day I was talking to a friend who reminded me of a part I had forgotten about. This little tidbit was a revelation. I love hearing others perception of a shared time or memory. They way things are skewered just a little bit from what we thought they were.
Well, with my new memory jogged from my brain, I have to add an “addendum.” Here is the full story… as I recall it……
I was living with friends and we had a party for an out of town guest who was staying with us. He had just arrived from Las Vegas and had a great story to tell us. He proceeded to pull is pant down. Yes we were like what is he doing? On his butt cheek there it was… a beautifully executed tattoo of Elvira’s signature. We marveled at it, clapped, whopped and hollered with gay abandon. It was glorious. We laughed and listened with giant smiles as he told us how he got it and went straight to the tattoo shop to get it done. This was so genius and so amazing. We immediately started to imagine and pondered who’s name, dead or alive, would we get tattooed on our body? We thought and everyone said who they would and when it came to me, I hadn’t a clue…But it finally came to me in a flash of, oh shit yes! I picked some one who I admired and loved since I could remember, and thought there is no way I would ever meet this person in real life. So no way it would ever happen. That person was Dolly Parton. Everyone agreed this is the person and wouldn’t that be fantastic.
Well, a few years later, I’m at work, just another day in the life. I get this call from one of my roommates and all he said was wash your ass bitch. I had a sinking feeling and knew immediately what he meant. My mind reeled and a bit of fear coursed through my veins. Could I do this? Would I do this? There was only one answer.
A few months later Miss Dolly herself was doing a signing of her album Little Sparrow at the Tower Records on Sunset. Famous for meet and greets with music legends. Me and my boyfriend at the time went and got in line and as we got closer I keep thinking that I might just run away. He held on tight to me knowing I was nervous and not letting me run for it. He knew I would regret it. We finally got to our turn and he gave a little shove. I came up to the table and sheepishly said hi and handed my CD for her to sign. Add just as I was leaving the thought came into my head. “do it now or you will be sorry”. My head was hazy and fuzzy, but in a soft spoken tone I asked if she would sign my back. She didn’t quite hear me so I had to say it again, clearly. “Would you sign my back so I can get it tattooed?”
She moved back like oh no, and looked at her security detail, they looked like they they were getting ready to jump me. Then she looked my up and down and I swear I saw the light bulb and a flash come over her. She relaxed and I saw the thought bubble in her eyes that said, “oh he’s a gay”. And with that, the security stood down and with a comforting sweet smile she said, “if you can get ass up here I’ll sign your back”.
I hopped up so quickly I almost broke the table! We were both like whoah hold on here. I apologized and she said, “I thought you were going crush this table on me!” We both laughed and I believe I apologized again. I handed here my brand new sharpie, and we started talking. She immediately started to talk me out of what she thought was a bad decision. She said, “are you sure you want to do this?” I was up on that table and was not goin anywhere, I said, “yes of course”. “Couldn’t you just use some hairspray or shellack instead? That is a lot of pain to go through just for me.” I just smiled and said nope.” Then she said, “your boyfriend is going to kill you”. I said no he won’t, he is right there. I pointed at him and she said, “you don’t mind if he does this?” and he said, “no, it is his body.” She still was trying to talk me out of it. But at that point she knew there was no good arguing with me. And said “here we go.” At that point I noticed my friend Polly standing in front of me with the press and she had this big old grin on her face and gave me the thumbs up. I was so happy, I had a big ole grim in my face too. Then within an instant I went from smiling to an Oh.. My…God moment!! She went to town and it felt like she was signing my whole back!!! I was thinking, did I just make a big mistake! Dolly does nothing small, even signing my back. Then it really hit me, I was having a real conversation with Dolly Parton! I gathered myself and got up and ran away! A few feet away I stopped and came back and said all the things you say to an idol. I lover her and she was such an inspiration, thank you for being you and that your so beautiful and mazing. She again said get some hairspray for that. Its was a perfect magical moment.
But what I forgot until recently. A friend reminded me that during our conversation, she said something that really through me. She remembered seeing me a few months before. I was walking down the street, with my red mohawk. At first I was like did she really notice me or was she just saying that. But I did have a red mohawk and I was walking to work. It was early in the morning. She even recalled the street I was walking on and described my outfit. Dolly remembered me! she said that when she saw me she thought, what a brave soul. To be walking with such confidence and being truly myself not caring about anything. This when I realized I was have a real normal conversation and it freaked me out. So that is why I ran. I am glad I went back, but, having that time and just sitting there chatting was the real gift. And I have the tattooed signature to prove it.
A few months later me and a group of friends saw her first show in many years at the House of Blues, a small venue on Sunset Blvd. A friend and I went up to the merchandise booth to see what we would buy. He couldn’t help but tell them of my tattoo on my back. The two who worked there were taken aback. But were very excited to meet me. They told us how Dolly had been talking about our encounter for the last couple weeks. I was floored! Again Dolly remembered me!! They couldn’t wait to tell her I was there. My friend thought it would be great to possibly meet her again. I decided not to push my luck. And the merchandise people did not push the subject. In the end the show was amazing. Could I have meet her again? Maybe, but I will always have our time together.
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