first PRIDE
Madison was my mecca at the moment. I didn't even know about the Twin Cities yet. I was working at the grocery store in my hometown until at least 10 pm Friday night. The festival was Saturday. I called Jenny from work and said, "How would you like to go on a road trip?" The drive would take us 4 hours and we would encounter severe thunderstorms along the way. We left home at midnight, listened to TOP 40 pop music, drank convenience store coffee and smoked Marlboro lights the entire trip. Picture it: America' Dairyland. June, 1994 . We stayed at my friend Kristina’s place. We crashed on the floor because young people can sleep on the floor then wake up fresh and ready for the day ahead. I probably used a balled up sweatshirt for a pillow. I remember waking sweaty. I don't think I even knew that there were gay pride celebrations until I went to Madison hellbent on going to one. The sun was shining. I think I saw my first ever guy/guy couple holding hands