It’s Friday! It’s Christmas! It’s Friday and it’s Christmas!
So: I know Christmas might not be your holiday, or that you might not be feeling particularly festive right now. I know this year is… this year! But hear me out: two days ago, I drove to a body of water that has been largely deserted since the pandemic began, and I met a few loved ones there at a very safe distance, and we counted down and then jumped off a long dock into very, very cold water. It was painful, and invigorating, and somehow exactly what I needed at the end of this long, strange year.
I know this won’t be the case for everyone, because things are HARD, but I’ve found an unexpected gift in 2020, something about freedom from tradition, or obligation — the chance to make new kinds of memories, to pare down my connections and experiences to their bare bones and ask myself what I want and need. And sure, I want to hug my loved ones, more than anything — but until then, the shared sensory overload of a cold water plunge will do.
So this week, I hope you find something that makes you feel held by the universe, something that helps you reset. I’m so glad we’re here together, wherever here is for you today. YOU are a gift, and I love you!
*Clears throat* Anyway!
This week in Home Alone for the Holigays, Vanessa watched Grease 2 and Meg watched Brandy & Whitney Houston’s quintessential Cinderella!
On Grey’s Anatomy, Teddy came out (yay!) to Owen (boo).
Shelli Nicole helped us remember what it is to dance.
This was quite possibly my favorite Autostraddle post that has ever existed: The Elf On The Shelf Is A Cop: We Need ‘The Anti-Fascist On The Bookcase’.
Valerie Anne reviewed the teen version of Lost that I hated and loved and couldn’t stop watching, The Wilds.
Carmen wrote about Ma Rainey’s unapologetic Black queerness, and Viola Davis’ masterful depiction of her, in Netflix’s new version of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
And then there were your comments.
On Come Vibe With Me: A Little Less Conversation:
The You’ll Dance Again Soon Award to Mary:
On Gal Pal Watch: Gillian Anderson Breaks Up with Peter Morgan, Rebounds With Cute Brunette:
The Two, Four, Six, Eight Award to: Kristana! Iarran Mé! msanon! Chandra! thatottergirl! And Snaelle!
The Playtime Award to Ar Grass:
And the Super Dog Award to Blackmar:
On Amazon’s “The Wilds” Brings Lesbians to a Deserted Island:
The Wilds: Zootopia Award to nosidam:
On Viola Davis Towers in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Giving Life to a Black Queer Legend:
The Dr. CP, True Gift Award to Heather Hogan:
And on Watching “Personal Best” Was the Main Way to Become a Lesbian in the ’80s and ’90s:
The Dedicated Athlete Award to Jean McKenzie:
See a comment that needs to be here? Let me know! Tag me [at] queergirl.
Your intro is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing that energy with us and the world ❤️
Merry Christmas, Anna! 💙
Agreed! Thank you for the gifts you bring us each week, QG – not just in the form of comment awards, but in your words that always manage to capture just the right mix of gravity, levity and hope 💚
Oh wow, thank you Chandra! Merry Christmas 💙💙💙
Yaay thank you! Kristana, Iarran Mé, msanon, Chandra, and Snaelle, I know I can count on you all to be an infinite source of witty comments.
The pun dream team? I should be able to make a pun out of that somehow but, since I am NOT part of the pun dream team, I haven’t figured out how yet 😂
Yeah, making puns all the time is a complete nightmare.
We just need one more and we could be the Seven Punders
if we are teamtastically punny, we stan:) on Kristana’s shoulders.
@theotherone, i mean … your user/screen names, so if the team fits, count yourself :)
Haha 2 tru! It’s an in-joke with my queer bff from high school, so she can substitute in and solve the x factor problem in which we find ourselves…
solving for y with 2 x Q? go gays! you can’t solve an equation without gays on your team. it’s never been done before. ever. that’s math, right there.
I knew if I added one step to what Kristana started that I could trust the rest of the team to keep going with it. We can always count on each other…
to infinity and beyond
So, I don’t have a safe body of water within 5 miles of my house that I can jump into. So looks like it’s just gonna be me outside in Scotland in December with a bucket of water. But I need some sensory input, this is an open invite, any size body of water that you havr available, who’s with me?
Gilb I will absolutely pour a bucket of cold water over myself at the same time as you, but not in a weird way, I’m open any time 😂
i am unable to resist the urge to quote the great philosopher Misdemeanor Elliot: get ur freak on! california weird with a scotch twist.
i must also admit i have never gotten said freak on. so you know, not as i do…
Not too late to do it with us, msanon!
the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak – not in the fun way. nonetheless, my very best wishes for your transcontinental bucket plunge.
I have watched WW84 and realized that it is a superhero version of Happiest Season.
I also watched WW84 and i want you to explain this!
Let’s wait a few days, or until they post a review article.