Once More with Feeling

I often have to stop and ask myself, "How did I get to this point in my life? How have things come to this?"
I think I have the answer: by going against my gut instincts, of course. I have repeatedly screwed myself over by listening to the mainstream, and going along. Not right away, of course. Oh noooo -- that would be much too easy and painless. At first, I've always at least tried to stick to my guns. Just long enough to make a good fight of it, inflict a fabulous array of wounds on myself and others, and then gone along against my better judgment.

Of course, coming from the South, it's kind of expected. Everyone in a small Southern town simply must conform, dontcha know? I have never in my life been met with such a paradoxical creature as the dwellers of small Southern towns. The kind, oh-so-Christian ladies who will bring you a casserole when there's a death or illness in the family will viciously tear you, and your entire life, to shreds if they sense that you are different. I've yet to figure out just how this dichotomy operates, exactly, but I do have some theories.... more later....