[stylist] Romance and Appeal of faraway Places

[Semirhage]

I missed the witch burnings, but when I l;I've in the South I had people 
pushing religion at me all the time, talking strangers in malls, and 
assuming I was gonna burn in their hell because I was wearing a crystal 
[pendant, thought god created earth and all its minerals, HAHA, or a wizard 
or fairy or dragon pendant with my long flowing dress. Sort of felt 
assaulted. LOL.
And I missed other red neck West Coast comments, but I didn't say it was red 
neck country. Just that there were more there than expected. Far less than 
in the south, obviously, but still more than I expected and the contrast was 
sharp. Like when I was doing medical massage right outside of LA a couple 
came in and the husband was going to get his massage first then the wife, 
but she freaked out at my picture of Merlin on the wall and asked if I knew 
him. Of course I blinked a few times while trying to figure out how to 
politely and professionally answer crazy lady but she goes ahead, 
thankfully, and explains how she and her husband mystically met him when 
they were into Wicca and how he was a very bad entity and now they['ve found 
god again and whatever so they could not enjoy a therapeutic massage in an 
establishment who had a picture of Merlin on the wall. I then attempted to 
calmly explain that he is often a fantasy icon but historically, where my 
interests lay, was quite likely a druidic adviser to a war lord perhaps 
named Arter. She wasn't feelin' it.
Another  time, again right side of LA, we and some friends are coming home 
from Ren Fair and we're dressed as wizards. Flowing robes with moons and 
stars on and pointed matching hats. Our friend Thomas needs to dash quick 
into best buy and grab something. We go in with him because it's hot outside 
and we're in long robes, and though they are silk, it's still hot as they're 
long sleeved. The workers didn't say a word to us, but got all hush hush and 
were about to call the cops to have us escorted out because we were weirding 
them out. Doing nothing but looking around while we waited for our friend to 
buy his thing. Hm. LOL. Again surprising.
Once when wearing pirate hats some lady approaches us in OR and wants to 
know what those are. When we explain Pirate hats she acts as though we're 
talking gibberish. She had no accent other than American. Was really 
persistent about wanting to know though we did try to answer her a few 
times, and no she did not appear hard of hearing, just not to comprehend 
pirates in the least. LOL. So I finally had to say she needed to step off. 
Back down. Go away... And that also baffled her. LOL.
Also in OR ,not far from northern CA, we are wearing long dusters with the 
flared out mantel. there good against wind and rain, both prevalent in the 
area at times. Some people stop and ask us, one woman, again no accent or 
seeming problem in the lead, what our coats are for. Hm? I blink.Think for a 
moment and say...um to keep wind and rain and cold out, perhaps? Granted 
they did each sport 3 inch striking awesome wizard broaches, but she didn't 
ask about them wizards, so go figure. HAHA. She said I didn't have to be a, 
and II quote, 'Smart Ass.' I blink again. What other way was there to answer 
an intrusive rude question but with facts. LOL.
We have neat hand carved steampunk looking wooden glasses and once at a gem 
and mineral show in OR, a lady asked me and I quote, "What's that on your 
face."
LOL. They have round lenses. they are obviously glasses, just the frames are 
carved wood. Mine happened to have a feather mask design as I designed them 
and the guy I paid carved them. Butt obviously glasses. Most people 
complimented them. I love your glasses. Where did you get them? That's the 
thing I was used to. Not what's that on your face. Dude, glasses? I just 
stared at her and kept moving. Sometimes it's the only thing to do else you 
dumb yourself down playing with them. lOL.
I recently was shopping in a tourist type store in OR and I do like bats so 
I'm wearing a huge Lily Munster bat pendant and a hat I designed that's sort 
of dressy with a silver bat on the front/brim and lace streamers hanging 
down in the back with dangling bat charms on. She asked me when we're paying 
if I like bats. Um No. LOL.
In the South I was used to that sort of dumb from a lot of people, of course 
not saying all or anything, as I have friends anda family there, but on the 
West  Coast it is more surprising/jarring. And the redneck bike obsession 
and how everyone can't breath without having their dog with them, even if 
the dog is barking and miserable about being shut in a car  or in the heat 
or whatever...But everywhere has its weirdnesses.
Sem
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head.