On Saturday morning I traipsed Commercial Street, on one of the few occasions when I felt alone there, as though I was obvious in my solitude and that was something to feel ashamed about. I spent a while sitting on a bench looking out at the ocean and tried to write. I managed a few passages, but I knew I didn’t want to spend my little remaining time in a way that I could when I was back at home, though I was soothed by the beautiful view of the ocean.
I cheered up as I enjoyed the last show by Kristen Becker (supported by Jami Smith), another pair of comediennes that I had seen around many times over the week. When I walked back onto the main street, I was lucky enough to bump into Kate McLachlan, Tonie, and their two friends and have lunch with them. We ate outdoors and chatted and it was another unexpected gift from the week. To get to spend time with them, to talk about where they lived, Kate’s work, my work, and the world of lesbian fiction reading in general.
Authors Kate McLachlan, Tonie Chacon McLachlan, and friends, Brenda and Klaire
I left them to try to find Joan Timberlake who had promised on Facebook to serenade me with her jazz band if I got up the nerve to book my flight. Now it should have been easy to spot a 10-piece lesbian jazz band you’d think, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. Thankfully, as I was walking around later, Joan and another band member walked by and proceeded to play to me right there on the street. And I got to hear them all ten of them playing on Sunday morning.
Getting serenaded on the streets of PTown by Joan Timberlake (with the white hat) and jazz band member.
Joan Timberlake and the full band on the Sunday morning
Saturday evening was a bit of a daze, rushing around, getting to see a few of the different musical acts at the UU Meeting Hall, and then the Drag-In with Jennie McNulty and Mimi Gonzales at the P.O. Cabaret for the wild adventures of Dirty Steve and Juan A. Nother (with guest appearances by Vicky Shaw and Jessica Kirson).
Another great show, shared this time with Lauren, Tina and Tina’s parents. And after to the Crown and Anchor for the Grand Finale Party and a late-night session of duck-throwing at P’Town Essentials, an altogether weird and wonderful end to the PTown nights out.
