I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is my last Out & About column of the summer. The good news is I have successfully gone an entire season with access to a newspaper and, to my knowledge, nobody has been fired because of it. Honestly, I think we all deserve a little recognition.
When this column came back for the summer, I had no idea what I was going to talk about every week. Turns out, living around here gives you PLENTY of material. You just have to leave the house.
And what a summer we had.
We kicked things off with Pride, because obviously. Rehoboth Beach Pride gave me the opportunity to read to families at Drag Queen Story Hour, proving once and for all that drag queens CAN read. Some of us even do it without a teleprompter.
I hosted Salisbury’s Unity Day, where downtown filled with music, dancing, performers, families and enough positive energy to temporarily make me forget what the internet comments section looks like. We celebrated people being exactly who they are, which I will always happily put on a wig for.
We survived the jellyfish and approximately 900 people asking, “Is it always this busy here?”
Yes. No. I don’t know. Please keep moving.
We watched tourists arrive with enough beach equipment to establish a small nation, locals complain about traffic while sitting in that traffic and seagulls commit felony theft directly in front of children.
And somehow, I kept finding things to write about. There is ALWAYS something happening around here. Something weird, funny or worth celebrating. Sometimes all three happen simultaneously on Rehoboth Avenue, and I got to tell you about it.
That’s pretty cool.
Now summer is winding down. The crowds are thinning, locals are beginning to make eye contact again and Route 1 will soon become a road instead of a long-term housing arrangement.
And we’re heading directly into my favorite time of year: HALLOWEEN.
If you thought I was going to quietly disappear just because this column is ending, that’s adorable. Kadet Kelly is entering spooky season.
There will be wigs, costumes, poor decisions involving hot glue and almost certainly one outfit that makes someone ask, “Why?”
My answer will be the same as always: Why not?
You don’t even have to wait for Halloween. I’m back at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Rehoboth this Friday, Sept. 11, for Freddie’s Follies at 9 p.m. Come say hi, have a drink and watch me do something in a wig that I will later attempt to deduct on my taxes.
So that’s it. The final Out & About.
Thank you to everyone who picked up The Current, laughed with me, came out to these events and supported local drag, local theatre, local Pride and all the weird little things that make this area ours.
Most importantly, thank you for allowing Kadet Kelly access to printed media. That was extremely irresponsible of you.
I’ll see you out and about.
Trust me. I’m hard to miss.
