Drama Queen

Introduction

Interview with the Author

Excerpts:
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  • Drama is an Elective
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  • "But I Thrive on Drama!"
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  • Drama's Roll Call
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  • Compulsive Spending
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  • Roommates

    Letter From the Editor

    Editorial: Having Our Say

    New Releases

    Authors On Tour

    Feedback

    Ordering

    Gay/Lesbian/Feminist Bookstores Around the Country

    The Mostly Unfabulous Homepage of Ethan Green

     




    Drama Queen Drama is an Elective

    From Drama Queen
    By Patrick Price

     

    Everyone is familiar with stress. It's right there at home in our daily lives: perched on our brows as we balance the checkbook, weighing on sore shoulders after a rough day at work, following us into restless dreams to mutter, "What if. . . ? Keep it up -- don't forget." It's hardly welcome, but like the quirky neighbor next-door who cultivates dandelions or emits cooking smells from no known food group, it's a presence we've come to accommodate. You have no choice. Stress is simply an inescapable by-product of Life. Perhaps having Ed McMahon pull up your driveway in a big van with an even bigger check would help, but even then an entire different set of stress would make itself known -- although with much less sympathy from me. Of course there are known ways to aggravate stress: less sleep, poor nutrition, inopportune deadlines, and too much eBay bingeing. But despite the consequences, none of these come as any surprise.

    We've learned how to manage -- even to prosper -- in tough times.

    But stress has a sibling.

    And she's ten times more trouble than stress ever could be.

    I'm talking about drama.

    Double Trouble

    Drama is stress's tarted-up little sister -- grief masked as show. Your life is her stage for over-the-top trauma. While stress rarely tiptoes or tempts you, drama seduces with promises she knows she can't keep. She offers what you want to believe under the philosophy "Why not?" Persuasive, invasive, at times almost glamorous -- drama is mistaken for truth, but it's not fate pulling the strings. And for reasons soon to be explored, gay men are particularly susceptible to her charms.

    But you're smarter than that, right?

    You would never let yourself be suckered. You can't imagine calling your friends late at night to vent tales of disbelief.

    Who do you think you're kidding?

    All of us have, at one time or another, been tarred with drama's brush. It's inescapable and will happen again. So what can you do? Expecting drama to simply disappear is sure defeat. She's more stubborn than you. The achievable task is reducing her part to a guest appearance -- and not the indefinite Heather Locklear-as-Amanda Woodward" definition -- preventing her from becoming the reigning diva over your life. You see, we've become so used to drama as a familiar presence that we've unconsciously cleared out a drawer for her long-term comfort, making her feel welcome when she ought to be our most unwanted guest.

     

    Copyright © 2001 Patrick Price.

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