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Post by Patricia Kelly-Arrington on Jan 18, 2016 20:17:06 GMT
I met this amazing character at the 1987 L.A. Gay Rights Festival as I was amost 27 years old and she was almost 40 and experiencing some spiritual upheaval. When we met, I was passing out flyers for what was then the Lesbian and Gay Services Center. She had a booth for the Community Yellow Pages. She asked me to cover her booth so she could leave for awhile and I agreed. Then, she asked for my number. I lived in Palm Sorings so I thought I was safe. She drive to see me and mesmerized me with her adventures in gay history, and butch tolerance. I was a gem and " passed". She never understood living in the closet. She introduced me to the Man/Boy Love Association, and the Catholic Nun's as I edited the first edition of her first book, Kicking The Habit in 1988. I remember when she bought a Joshua Tree "shack" l (complete with an outhouse), we shared metaphysical experiences there through 1988. Metaphysics was all the rage in the 1980's and Jeanne was in the thick of it. There was the Harmonic Convergence, and clearing breath work with Dina Bachelor' Awakening sessions. There were visits to " sweat lodges" for purification and induced altered states to open her chakras. I didn't know it then but I guess we were each finding our distinct paths. Her's led her to her lifemate Lynne in late 1989. Mine, led me on a different path away from her. I did not get a chance to speak to Jeanne before she transitioned. I wish I had thanked her. Jeanne taught me I could do anything I wanted. I did have the honor of hugging Lynne at the memorial and sharing memories to ease her pain for a few short seconds on a terrible, hard day. My thoughts are with you Lynne!
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Patricia Kelly-Arrington
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Post by Patricia Kelly-Arrington on Mar 28, 2016 6:43:21 GMT
I met this amazing character at the 1987 L.A. Gay Rights Festival. I was almost 27 years old and she was almost 40 at the time. I suspected that Jeanne was experiencing some spiritual catharsis . When we met, I was passing out flyers for what was then Mazer Archives. She had a booth for the Community Yellow Pages. She asked me to cover her booth so she could leave for awhile and I agreed. Then, she asked for my number. I lived in Palm Springs so I thought I was "safe" to do that. She drive out to have dinner with me and quickly mesmerized me with her adventures in gay history, and butch/fem tolerance. I was a fem then and " passed". I was " closeted". She never understood how anyone would live in the closet. I suspect she wanted to mentor me, or empower me out of being closeted. She wanted to pass the torch to the next generation and I think she selected me to teach. She introduced me to the radical Man/Boy Lolve Association, and her past with the Catholic Nun's when she asked me to help her edit the first edition of her book, Kicking The Habit in 1988. I remember when she bought a Joshua Tree "shack" l (complete with an outhouse) where often shared metaphysical experiences through 1988. Metaphysics was all the rage through the 1980's and Jeanne was in the thick of it. There was the Harmonic Convergence, and clearing breath work with Dina Bachelor' s Awakening sessions. There were visits to Native American "sweat lodges" for purification and induced altered states to open her chakras. I didn't know it then but I guess I was not cut out for mentoring! I was not an activist like her. Her mentoring me did not work out. It was one of her few losses. And while painful, we each were bound to find our distinct paths. Her's led her to mentor others and find her lifemate, Lynne Ballen in late 1989. My path led me away from her, grass roots activism and into women's health. I emailed Jeanne but did not get a chance to speak to Jeanne before she transitioned into her death. I wish I had thanked her face to face. I love her even now and for always. Jeanne taught me I could do anything I wanted. I did have the honor of hugging her wife, Lynne at the memorial and sharing a memory or two to ease her pain for a few short seconds on a difficult day. If you read this, my thoughts are with you Lynne! |
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Patricia Kelly-Arrington
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Post by Patricia Kelly-Arrington on Mar 28, 2016 6:53:03 GMT
I met this amazing character at the 1987 L.A. Gay Rights Festival. I was almost 27 years old and she was almost 40 at the time. I suspected that Jeanne was experiencing some spiritual catharsis . When we met, I was passing out flyers for what was then Mazer Archives. She had a booth for the Community Yellow Pages. She asked me to cover her booth so she could leave for awhile and I agreed. Then, she asked for my number. I lived in Palm Springs so I thought I was "safe" to do that. She drive out to have dinner with me and quickly mesmerized me with her adventures in gay history, and butch/fem tolerance. I was a fem then and " passed". I was " closeted". She never understood how anyone would live in the closet. I suspect she wanted to mentor me, or empower me out of being closeted. She wanted to pass the torch to the next generation and I think she selected me to teach. She introduced me to the radical Man/Boy Love Association, and her past life as an a nun, when she asked me to help her edit the first edition of her book, Kicking The Habit in 1988. I remember when she bought a Joshua Tree "shack" (complete with an outhouse) where often we would go to share metaphysical experiences 1987-early,1989. Metaphysics was all the rage through the 1980's and Jeanne was in the thick of it. There was the Harmonic Convergence, and "clearing breath" work with Dina Bachelor' s Awakening sessions. There were visits to Native American "sweat lodges" for purification and induced altered states to open her chakras. I didn't know it then but I guess I was not cut out for mentoring! I was not an activist like her. Her mentoring did not work out for me. It was one of Jeanne's few losses. She hated losing. And while painful, we each were bound to find our distinct paths. Her's led her to mentor others and find her lifemate, Lynne Ballen in late 1989. My path led me away from her, grass roots activism and into women's health. I emailed Jeanne but did not get a chance to speak to Jeanne before she transitioned into her death. I wish I had thanked her face to face. I love her even now and for always. Jeanne taught me I could do anything I wanted. I did have the honor of hugging her wife, Lynne at the memorial and sharing a memory or two to ease her pain for a few short seconds on a difficult day. If you read this, my thoughts are with you Lynne! |
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