Boy George....The First, The One, The Only. He
Kicked The Doors Down For Gays In The 80's.
Hell, My Grandmother Even Loved Him.

I ran into an old friend of mine last night while out to dinner. Her name is Tammy. We grew up, not living very far from each other. Mark and I invited her to sit down to have dinner with us and she has not changed a bit. Thank God. She is so much fun. Care free, her personality is magnetic. This was Tammy's first time meeting Mark, so she decided that she would "spill the beans", if you will, about my childhood and the moments that she witnessed first hand. The story that she remembered instantly was the year that we went to 4-H Camp and i became Boy George's twin Boy Chupa. The camp was a nightmare for me. It was one solid week of being away from home and being forced to participate in activities that i had no interest in. Hiking through the woods in search of insects. Potatoe sock hops. You get the picture.

When we first arrived at the camp we were sectioned off into various Indian Tribes. Tammy and I were bestowed the honor of being in the POWOTAN Tribe. Once every tribe was completed with members I remember looking around at my tribe and thinking "Good Lord...could we have gotten anymore diverese in personalities here. This truly IS a CULTURE CLUB." Tammy was clearly my only friend in this tribe. The rest of the members consisted of butch jock guys, a home sick little girl and red neck rejects from Hee-Haw. The big contest was to be held that Thursday night and every tribe was assigned the task of finding talent among their mates and forming a talent to present that night. First place would be awarded 15 points and would be first in line for breakfast that next morning.
Tammy took charge as team captain. She asked if anyone had any talent and there were a few jugglers, a jump rope team, and a comedian (always has to be one of them in a group you know.) Needless to say, none of us were impressed with any of it. This had to be good, we wanted that first place prize. The entire time everyone was showing their talent skills to Tammy, i was day dreaming about life back home. Was my mom ok? My sisters? Then, i heard Tammy say."RONNIE.....YOU can sing!!" Everyone looked at me and started raising eyebrows and whispering. I declined her offer. She added "Sing...just part of a song....you can sing like Boy George....do that Karma Chameleon song." Everyone waited. I knew she would never give up. So, I began......."Desert loving in your eyes all the way...if i listened to your lies what would you say." Everyone was quiet. I rolled my eyes and turned back to my daydreaming. Then, everyone said "Oh my god...that's it. That's our talent. He is Boy George and a few of us guys can make up the rest of Culture Club. i was shocked. These Jocks were actually going to JOIN me in this? They did.
I was sooo infatuated with one in particular. I picked him as the drummer. LOL. Seemingly, since Boy Georges lover WAS Jon Moss, the drummer. That night. I was the last to go onstage. My make up was done by a female camp counselor who worked for AVON. LMAO. I remeber telling her, "I do NOT like my eyes this way, it doesnt look right." Stomping my feet. I was a DIVA even then. LOL. Eventually, I looked damn good, i thought. I had the costume to match. Baggy house coat, a clown hat with threaded braids stapled inside the hat,. We took the stage with Karma Chameleon. Music playing in the background. Microphone in hand I was transported into an idol of mine at that time. Boy George. He gave to me a sense of peace. Telling me that it is OK to be who I am. That I am not alone. There are others like me. When it ended. The crowd got up and clapped and started chatting ENCORE! ENCORE! i looked around and felt so wonderful. So, i ran to the guy who was operating the music in the back and said " Church Of The Poison Mind." I went back out and we all played that last song and just had so much fun. It is one of my most favorite childhood memories. We won first place that night and last night Tammy reminded me that my being a kid did have some fun great moments.