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Nursery rhymes seem to be ancient history, dusty and worn, a thing of the past. But as I began to recount the stories of my life as a Jack – my very own Jack + Jill his-n'-herstory – I couldn't help but recall this time worn rhyme
Jack + Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pair of Prada
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after (after calling Hot DDS for emergency crown surgery, that is)
And so, maybe things haven't changed so much. I find great comfort in the sing-song whimsy of this rhyme, a reasurrance that in fact, there's really nothing a Jill wouldn't do for her best good Jack. If he falls, she will catch him. She'll be wai-ting.
How these fairytale frienships are born and blossom are as elusive as the meaning behind these dusty old rhymes.
Can a Jack have more than one Jill?
I met my 'primary' Jill when I was 15 years old and she will always be my go to girl – our his-n'-herstory is very long and very sordid. There have been times when we've gone long distance and well, what's a Jack to do?
I didn't go out purposely looking for a second-in-command, a replacement Jill, but it was bound to happen, right?
Enter Betsy, who I've always called “The Gay Magnet” as she seems to pull in the gays like pretty moths to a fabulous flame. Betsy was my Roommate Jill. We lived together for eleven years, and for eleven years we stayed up late and smoked too much, went to breakfast and lunch together every day, and generally shared everything. We're as psychically connected as twins separated at birth.
And then, there's Susie. She's my Daily Jill, the one I talk to on my way to work. She owns a dance studio and I write choreography for her and her fledgling students. While work stuff may have bound us in the beginning, she's been indoctrinated "third wife" and merits just as much time + attention as the others.
If I'm honest, there are a few more Jills in my life
but for now – at the risk of needing my very own show on TLC, called “Sister Jills” – let's just shut it down here.
I felt the need for a common ground for the lot of us. Since Primary Jodie and Second Wife Bets are remote, I felt like I needed a base camp, a home where would could storytell the deliciously good, laughably bad and awkward-stage ugly times.
Leading Lady Jodie – a dedicated Jill known to hand-craft matching pajamas + footies for us– was simply thrilled.
Inspired, I rang Bets. As I gushed about the brilliance that is this online community = the perfect home for us, I heard that something in her voice. The sort of 'fooling nobody upset disguised as cool' tone. That, or she was painting her nails and tuning me out.
Either way, (like the second wife who slaves over a casserole for 12, while the first wife gets to go to the ball) she was quite clearly over the me + Jodie as Reigning Queen + Queen over the jacksandjills.com kingdom thing.
My potentially Jackhole move by "Sophie's Choice-ing" Jodie was threatening to take down the house of cards. And then there was Suze to think about. Jodie and Betsy and Susie, oh my!
Am I a play boy, or is it the game?
Just as a Jack may have multiple Jills (and not just in the state of Utah), I must accept that a Jill may also play the field. Must also have the freedom to come to the rescue of another fair prince.
Like a lowly sailor, we're all comfort seekers, and we take it where we can get it – in every port we land in. Because as far as Happily Ever After's go, all's fair in Love + a good Tumble with your favorite Jill (and by that I mean, all three of you).
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A self-styled Gaytriarch that gives fabulous advice (both solicited and unsolicited) suitable for any occasion, this actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, writer, corporate survivor, perfect party guest is a Jack of many trades. React, interact and more with Scott on Facebook, twitter and his website, www.somelikeitscott.com. Voted one of The Advocate Readers' Top Ten Blogs!
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