This Time Last Year

Warning: Extreme sappiness ahead.

Here in Ottawa we're rolling into the third annual Gaga Weekend. Last year's was an excellent time. So excellent, in fact, that I eschewed all the Westfest stuff - I was either at Gaga events or too tired out by them to head west at all.

There was rocking, there was rolling. It was the birthplace of Fashion Crimes Bingo. It also gave me a two day hangover I nursed with more beer.

It was crazy fun. I loved how DIY it was, I liked how well organized it was. I marvelled that they were able to merge those two things so successfully: that is one fine line to walk. I loved how many women were both on the stage and in the audience.*

Jennifer was my consistent companion, though Steve and I believe perhaps Mitch joined us Saturday for the big show, and d.jack was my date that night. Or, at any rate, I wrangled him home with me,** which is close enough to a date in my books.

So this week I've been making arrangements. Who's going to be at what show, when should we meet, should I bring my bingo card, etc. etc.

And then I thought, that's right, when I got there last year, to Yogi's, to the afternoon show, the matinee, if you will, d.jack was all happy to see me. And I thought, huh, that's right, this time last year, we had just started dating. And then I thought, jesus, this time last year. how did that happen so fast? when the winter seemed so long? And then I thought, how did that happen at all, that i'm dating someone for more than one year and am *happy*? And then I thought and *content*! And then I thought, holy shit. this really could not have turned out any better.

And then I stopped thinking because I didn't want to jinx it.

But then my heart got all swelled up anyhow and I wished he was there so I could wrap my arms all the way around him and squeeze him with the biggest squeeze ever and put my lips on his lips and breathe.

*Other weekend festivals will go nearly unmentioned. Though, to be fair, this year's line up was the most lady-tastic ever.
**And then wrangled him some more, lar lar.