The Birds
I watched the feather-topped blondes strut past me along the walkway near the Excalibur Hotel. There were four of them. Each woman wore a large, extravagant headpiece of feathers, as if they were large birds. They carefully sashayed on large white platform heels. I stood 5 feet 9 inches tall. Most of my life I have had to endure a different type of feeling as a woman; my height was considered to be on the edge of being too tall for most people.
To my shock, these women towered above me. Their vanity hit me instantly. I had spent a lifetime enduring verbal abuse and harassment by angry people. I came from a culture that valued modesty, altruism, and self-effacing tendencies over self-respect, a dangerous lesson if there ever was one on how to devalue oneself.
They both had natural, light-blonde hair. Vegas heat made hair stick straight but could not even and flatten my natural ringlets. The top of my hair was slightly greasy, which was the way I preferred it. Since I had given up washing my hair with soap-based products, my hair had been much healthier. Vinegar and beer became my mantra.
They had clearly spent time this morning on their looks. Each movement seemed posed. Their hips stuck out of their uniforms. The feminine body has never enticed me, and I am not fond of garish looks such as butt and bosom hanging out of tacky showgirl uniforms.
I am sure they were considered beautiful. I wish I could consider them harmless. They were clearly eager to pose and make money. As I came off the escalator, I bumped into two pairs of them. As I attempted to regain my balance, they noticed I had been taking pictures. Naturally, they thought I wanted one of them.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. I stared at the fascinating, elegant, yet vulgarly Disney-like creation. The castle caught my attention. Vegas is the land of the garish, and its desert landscapes contrast with the commercial looseness. It has never bothered me because it is here. I would have a different reaction if I saw such a building in
Puerto Vallarta or Toronto.
Would you like to take a picture, darling. You are so gorgeous. Do you want to take a picture
I ignored them and took a picture of the castle
What. You don’t want to take a picture of us. You are beautiful
Come on. Take a picture of us.
Again, I ignored them and kept walking.