The Cotillion is a gala event which our group stages every year at the beginning of February. It feature the selection and crowning of a new Miss TGSF, as well as the opportunity for new members to appear on stage as debutantes. I had gone to my first meeting of TGSF, then ETVC, on February 26, 1998, shortly after the previous year's event, so this was to be my first Cotillion!
I had decided to wear the same dress that I had worn at my friends' debut in Reno on October 10, 1998, but this time to accessorize it in white, with faux pearl jewelry, which I had purchased in Seattle, and white shoes, and a small white handbag, which I found at a thrift store. I also wanted to indulge in wearing a white fur, and went to the I Love It! consignment shop, where I selected from several that I had seen there and decided on one to purchase. Two other people preparing for the Cotillion were in the store as well, and I helped one of them with her selections.
It was to be a rainy day. As usual, I wanted to get ready early and head over to San Francisco well in advance, but I didn't want to wear my Cotillion dress in advance, so I selected another outfit to wear before the event. I packed the Cotillion dress and accessories in the garment bag that I had purchased for my Seattle trip. I wore an overcoat over my outfit, and brought a small umbrella with me. Then I began my walk in the light rain to the BART station.
The most frequent bus to where the event was held ran from the Mission District in San Francisco, so I got off of the BART train there. It was still raining lightly. I found a donut shop there, and had a pastry and a cup of coffee. I was seated at a small table facing the door, and was surprised when a man came to the door and said, "I thought you was dead! ... Marilyn!" That was quite a surprise for this "ugly duckling," who was now I guess, in her blond wig, resembling that famous person.
I then walked down the street in the light rain, searching for a nail salon. I hadn't remembered any on that part of the street, and only saw some busy hair salons which offered nail services as well, so I boarded a bus and went further down the street where I had seen some salons before. I then got off, walked past some that were busy, and found one where there were available operators. I first had a silk wrap placed on one nail, which had a crack in it, then had a manicure with garnet nail polish. I then took the bus back up the street, and changed to another bus which would stop near where the event would be held.
I hadn't been to the site of the event, The Galleria Design Center, before, but had located it on an online map. I didn't have a detailed map with me, and rode one stop past the nearest one, so had to walk an additional distance in the rain to get there. I arrived, walked in, and found that preparations were still underway. I found the women's rest room behind the stage, and went into a stall to change. Naturally, many other participants gradually came in to do the same thing, and I had to wait to get to a sink and mirror to do the finishing touches on my makeup.
I then walked back to the front of the hall, obtained the ticket that was waiting for me, and was assigned a table. At that table were members of the San Francisco Gay Community, including the well-known Widow Norton, Empress of San Francisco, who introduced herself to me. I was seated next to another person who was also at her first Cotillion. The catered dinner featured Chicken Cordon Bleu, and was served buffet style.
To be continued.
This page last updated: April 05, 2000
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