Adventures with Dr. Lady Cutie Troublemaker

I grew up in Atlanta and was raised by VERY liberal parents. We didn’t get outside the perimeter (ring road, beltline, etc.) much. In a way, I was sheltered by my unshelteredness – if that makes any sense.

Somewhere around 1986, my parents had some slightly well-to-do friends visiting from North Carolina. Whenever they came to town, I could always expect to be brought along to a really fancy restaurant (I always enjoyed this about seeing them!). This time, my parents chose a restaurant in Buckhead called Bones. It was a fancy shmancy place that sold a lot of steak and MAN FOOD! Very Old Boy’s Networky. Dark wood. Meat. You get the idea. (I think I ordered all sides or something)

My parents let me bring my boyfriend Tristan along. We sat at the next table and got a romantic dinner for free while they visited with their friends. So somewhere near the end of the entree, my mother stands up from the table abruptly and says LOUDLY “YOU VOTED FOR JESSIE HELMS?!!!!” I remember lots of people staring sternly, and I MORE remember my dad, my boyfriend and I being REALLY tickled by the whole thing.

Jump to December 2007 when I headed out to Oakwood Cemetery here in Raleigh with a few friends to shoot some pictures. When I came across Jessie Helms’ grave, I was a bit surprised because he wasn’t dead yet! I called my mother on my cell phone, and she thought that was funny? Facinating? Something. I just remember her reaction was strong. I shot a picture and posted it on Flickr.

Well, as you probably know, Jessie Helms died on Independence Day. I started getting a few comments on my picture of Helms’ grave. It started as a trickle, then (partially due to me bumping it up in my photostream and Twittering about it), the comments have become an avalanche. It’s pretty fascinating stuff.

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