for Raina Lea

Raina Lea, the famous drag queen
and drag impressario, who was
twice Gay Empress of Fort Worth.
advised me if I ever took up her trade
to shave as close as I possibly could.
I liked to watch her put on her makeup
like I used to like watching Jerri Reidy
my mother's childhood friend, who had been
Gus Wortham;s personal secretary, Gus
of the Wortham Center in Houston.  I met
Mr. Wortham at Jerri's second wedding.
Jerri would take me to the Inner Circle
at the Wortham for musicals and I met
Juliet Prowse there.  But, Raina Lea...
I had to hide from him one time when
I disappeared with his lover for an afternoon
and he threatened to castrate me with a
broken beer bottle.  But we were good
friends and had lots of good times.  He
has been dead with HIV for twenty-five years.
The wonder is I am AIDS free.  Gary,
that was Raina's real name, once loaned
his tiara to Ruta Lea, the Hollywood star,
not to be confused with Ruta Baker,
for a production at Casa Manana.  Raina
took her stage last name from Ruta.  I
saw Raina retire at least three times.