Incense wastes away lazily among the palms, fanning neon shadows across the room. Inside, the glittery people gather. Music thrums through the wooden floorboards, splayed out among floor cushions and bow-tied kitties chasing our fringe. 

Within minutes, the ancient window needs prying open. Too many bodies too close together. Laughter and humidity, all just a little too full for this tiny living room to hold. Tarot cards flip, a long set of hand-painted fingernails points to our fate beneath a witchy duct-taped star.

Every so often, one of us brings a guest. Maybe a new guy we’re dating, trying him on for size. Catholic Joe. DJ Fuckbuddy. Hot Doctor. Co-op cutie.

No matter–every visitor examines the walls, the handmade woven art, glassware flashing in the light – this is a separate world. Lust and Lady Gaga, gays and theys. “We’re FOX News’ worst nightmare!” Someone shouts with a thrill. 

I corner the cat and cuddle on the couch, watching bodies jive through the lights, pop, pop, popping away, steeped and swaying in a new normal.

What we leave behind: fear. Confused parents in Iowa. Khaki pants and starched shirts. Fair grounds and unfair towns. Questionable art degrees. We zoom away from meetings and calendar invites, Monday morning expectations. 

Our favorite gay bar, shuttered for months. No sweaty stages and chicken fingers and fast friends. This bundle of energy spins furiously and lands at the apartment on Aldrich.

I’ve befriended writers, designers, aerobics instructors, healers, and more in this small living room. I’ve filled my shelves with their pottery and phone screen with their designs. I send them my writing in a 2am rush, mid-conversation.

The next morning, I awake with a dry mouth and blue eyeliner on my pillow. In the sun I let pieces of the night float back to me. Soon I’ll search the city for a breakfast burrito.

And long after their old Jeep has left the city, we will stay in my mind forever grooving down alleyways, about to miss our Uber.

This is a love letter to some of my favorite people in Minneapolis – a few of which have recently moved to Chicago! I wrote this during the pandemic, but revisited it recently as they left. It feels like the end of an era, but I have a feeling I’ll be visiting Chicago often. 😉

Also, it’s Pride Month! Show your support and get the rundown on all of the amazing things Twin Cities Pride does for our community in my LAB blog post!