Meet Lily. At the moment, she’s in need of a bit attention  Last year’s gay pride beads have faded, her hat needs to be changed to reflect the season, she could use a new coat of paint, and, though she’s a girl who loves spiders, sometimes they take advantage, plastering her in sticky webs. Lily is a resident of our backyard.

Her origin story goes something like this. At one time she was the top part of a fountain. Note the griffin she leans against. It spouted water. But alas, the owners grew tired of Lily and her little griffin friend and offered her to a house-painter friend of ours who was working on their house. He immediately thought of Dixie and I. No surprise. In our experience, straight men like to give lesbians sculptures of naked women. A walk through our house will prove my point. There’s the naked torso made of resin, a wall hanging of the Three (naked) Graces, a small carving of a naked women in lotus pose, each of them gifted to us by various straight men. I never take offense at these gifts, rather accept them as a kind of peace offering. I get it, they say, I like naked women too.

But I was reluctant about Lily. I loved the pool beneath her feet. Perfect for succulents, I thought, but the girl herself, there was an innocent sexuality that made me uncomfortable. She was too young, too undressed. Like a virgin ready to be sacrificed to appease the Gods. Or worse: a pedophile’s dream. But Dixie was smitten. She’d noticed that Lily’s creators had kind of fudged on the side of her face that was turned away. This blemish made Dixie feel protective. So into the truck Lily went.

That was over ten years ago, and while we’ve grown older, Lily hasn’t. She’s still the beautiful, underdressed girl with downcast eyes. And oddly, I’ve come to feel protective of her too. I take comfort imagining her safe in our yard, surrounded by succulents and flowers, far from predators. A girl free to express her sexuality without the threat of becoming a target.

Before my next blog, I promise to have gotten her some new pride beads, and a new hat. The spiders, though, there’s not stopping them.

On another note, I would like to mention, I’ve signed with a new publisher for my latest novel, a mystery, LOST IN SOUND. It’s due out in August, and while it’s not yet available for preorder, the cover is done. Here’s a sneak peek.

And remember, live the love, it’s all we’ve got.