Virginity At Last

Actually, my first thought was to go as Uncle Sam but I decided against that because the costume would require so much work.

When I came up with this, I didn't exactly know how to make it happen, just that I wanted to. Yes, after 17 years, I would be doing drag again, and I was starting at the top of female iconography. I found out from my Methodist minister friends that the Madonna has a different specific appearance for every apparition, and thus you can tell when looking at a statue which appearance is being depicted - for instance, the appearance of Our Lady at Fatima wears a crown. Fairly consistent are: the color blue, long flowing garments, covered hair, and the Kid.

No experimenting here when it comes to make-up I have to sweat in for hours; I went for the best. So for the first time, I finally got to walk up to that black lacquered counter at Saks. "I need to go a couple of skin tones lighter for a party, so I will need a primer and a base." She didn't bat an eye and said "Sure. Right over here." 15 minutes later I walked away with my first two bottles of Chanel make-up, and on my way to look pretty, pretty sickly pale.

Thomas Farrell outdid himself on the garment.That I had a black doll as my Kid was greatly appreciated. Every time somebody invoked God, I kept telling them to lay off the father of my child, or my child as well, depending on their denomination.

The finishing touch was the halo. Made again by Thomas out of gold pipecleaners, it incorporated 10 very small battery-operated diodes in various colors. It was bright and cheerful and tacky. When I finally started putting it all together for the party, he kept muttering on how he had created a monster.

When we went to the Ramrod, I was afraid there would be no-one, I didn't know what to expect of Halloween in this leather bar. At least Thomas was with me, one of the more impressive wizards to be seen around ("This robe makes me do a Barbara Bain walk!"). I was greeted at the door by what looked like 7 feet of leatherclad hunk who was making sure everybody who wasn't in costume or leather would pay the doorcover. Intimidated, all I could think of doing was blessing him, which was the right move: he let us in. I almost tripped over the robe as I went up the stairs. Thomas told me that in this light, my skin looked as white as my headdress flowing down to my shoulders. Somebody gave me candy, leatherdaddies would come up to me and exclaim "Oh Mary!", I blessed the other clergy walking around and held out my Kid as a totem to a vampire passing by.

I must have been the only apparition of Our Blessed Lady who could piss at a urinal - or would leave the Kid at the pooltable, attended to by a wizard, to do so. Or whose halo would conc out at inopportune moments.

Ok, for those interested in the details: first oil-control moisturizer. Then a very pale concealer on the dark circles under the eyes and blemishes - blend the edges with fingers. Then a layer of primer, Blanc des Blanc by Chanel - do not use sponge but spread by dabbing with fingers, not by rubbing, especially when going over the areas where concealer was applied. Let dry a bit, then sponge on the oil-free foundation. Finish with cheap, pale, powder, heaps of it. Sweat like a pig and this still won't come off, while you look both immaculate and at Death's door. Cheeks go a light peach over the cheekbone, blended into a pink in the hollows, with a little brown to cast an extra shadow. Inner corners of the eye were brown, with tan on eye-lids and pink on outer corners extending into the blusher - remember, dimly lit rooms require heavy drama. Finish with that scourge of scourges, mascara. No eyeliner, Mary is delicate. Lips were deep berry red, almost purple. First purple liner, then two coats of lipstick applied with a tiny brush, finish each layer with powder lightly.