8 Comments

I used to work in an office with a window facing West 5th Street. In springtime, starting every Thursday after lunch, I'd hear the distant "wooooo" calls from down the street beyond Donn's Depot. I'd be putting proposals together, so I'd put down my work and wait by the window for the slow crawl of the Trolley Pub to make its way down the street with about 8-10 bachelorettes on board. There was something so strange about the routine nature of it, but it was captivating every time. It was like a slow-motion wave of cavalry-in-cut-offs letting us know that winter was finally over. It was also very much the meme of Squidward looking out the window and seeing SpongeBob and Patrick run around gleefully. Now that I work 45 minutes north of downtown, I kinda miss it.

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Robert! I’ve been meaning to reply for months! Thank you so much for your comment and especially for this delightful turn of phrase: “ a slow-motion wave of cavalry-in-cut-offs letting us know that winter was finally over.”

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As someone who has lived in Nashville for the majority of my “adult” life, I remember when the bachelorette meanderings made their way out of solely downtown roundabouts 10 years ago. And I remember when it was irritating and then I remember when I started to allow myself to laugh about it and accept the reality and then I remember when it started to just sort of feel normalized to life experience here and now I’m sort of indifferent about it. I sure have met some people over the years that made some damn good money creating experiences for bachelorettes tho.

“As the tip of the spear for heteronormativity...” Curious what you’re implying about Nashville there. Even though I know it’s true 😂 🗡️

Enjoying your writings

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Charles, thank you so much for all this!! (And sorry it's taken me forever to respond!) "As the tip of the spear for heteronormativity..." -- implying here that Nashville positively fetishizes and delights in MANLY men and WOMANLY women and couples featuring this particular combination of gender expression and sexuality.

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Intriguing observations. I always love reading your work.

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Thank you so much, Cassie! Yeah, Nashville is a trip -- I forgot to mention they also offer "Cowboylesque" (think Magic Mike in boots) which underscores this whole female gaze thing

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This made me LOL. I’d too would be snacking on my $80 sammie, reflecting on this experience. Bachelorette parties have become insane in the last decade.

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First, ADORE YOU KATIE. Second, what fresh hell are these gross-yet-exorbitant sandwiches, third I miss you and wanna hear all about your adventuressss (sans bachelorettes)

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