My 1st Ever Outrageous Act
The following is a very special memory for me. The other evening, I was looking for a specific photo in my files when I came across one of my favourite photos of myself. It was taken approximately 40 years ago! I’ve always believed that a picture can tell 1,000 words, and I feel that this particular photo told a whole story!
If I look back on my life and try to find the point in my life where I first started to be just a little outrageous… the photo says it all!
At the age of 27 I had been married for five years, and then asked my husband for a divorce. He was one of the good guys and my parents and friends thought I was nuts when I told them I wanted a divorce. I realized at the time, that I was not doing a very good job of explaining why I wanted a divorce… the term “outrageous” had not been applied to a woman yet, except in the context of “She’s outrageous” … meaning SHOCKING!
Which of course, back then, was THE worst thing a young woman could be. Having said that, back then (1975) the whole world was changing and caught up in the sexual revolution and the term “hippie” was invented. As the words of a famous song said, “The times they are a changing.”
And, I wanted to experience that change… first hand!
So, when a girlfriend told me she had met a great guy and he’d invited her to visit him in Los Angeles, she invited me to go along. Of course, I said, “Yes!” and before long, we were off to L.A.
Upon our arrival, I was pleased to meet “Jack” because he was a nice guy, good looking and also very wealthy. We spent three days having a great time! The last evening, I think all of us were sorry we had to leave, and we had a wee bit too much Scotch to drink. To this day I still blame the Scotch for what I did, but I also acknowledge it was the first time I had let the outrageous part of me come out to play.
Jack had travelled the world and especially loved Thailand. He purchased quite a bit of teak furniture there, and had it shipped home to LA. One of the most stunning pieces was a huge teak elephant! It proudly sat in the living room beside the piano.
Now, as I mentioned, we had been drinking Scotch. I wasn’t used to that! However, to this day, I remember feeling very mellow… and just a bit outrageous. Of course, back then, the word would have been something like “daring,” or maybe a titch crazy!
The three of us were sitting around talking and dancing. At some point I turned to Jack and inquired, “Would you mind if I checked out the view of LA… from atop the elephant?” It had a name, but for the life of me, I can’t remember it.
The next thing I knew, Jack left the room and came back with a ladder. Before I knew it, I was sitting on the elephant! I imagined myself a queen looking down on all her subjects and started waving. Obviously, I'd had too much scotch! :-)
Just then, Jack started to take photos of me. When he was finished he helped me climb down, which was a good thing… I don’t do well with heights! Then Jack tried to encourage my girlfriend to get up on the elephant, but alas, she would not do it!
It was at that moment I realized Jack liked me just a titch more than my girlfriend. He proved that the next morning. As we were packing the car, getting ready to leave, he took me aside, and whispered in my ear, “Next time come alone!”
I was dumbfounded! Once I had recovered, I thanked him for the invitation and then politely declined. I don’t do that sort of thing… poach a girlfriend’s “friend.” That has been my philosophy my whole life.
Of course, over the years, I’ve wondered what would have happened in my life if I had gone down to see Jack on my own! Having said that, I am quite happy to have the fond memory that I have, of a very good time. And, I’ve got the photo to remind me! 😊
