I had a lot of fun when I was working as a stripper. It was one of the best, if not the best, times of my life. Not only was I making enough money for my kids and me; but the job, also, provided a way for all of us to see places we would probably never been able to see if I had chosen a "regular" life for us.
My daddy once told me, "You're the scum of the earth - doin' that dancin' - takin' off your clothes! If you're gonna do that, you shouldn't of told your kids!" I reeplied to his comments by letting him know that I wanted my kids to know who I really am and love me for the kind of person I am and not for someone I pretended to be. I, also, made the decision when I started to dance as a stripper that I was not going to be ashamed of what I was doing and not hide it from anyone - not even my kids. I decided that if I was going to be ashamed of it, then I would not do it.
This type of thinking is something that my dad is incapable of acquiring because his mind is saturated with the life-style of the small-town hypocritical, provincial thinking that the people of Lamar, Missouri hold so high.
There are many, certain ways that I was raised that I do not agree. The main one is the small-mindedness that was bred into me. Luckily, I overcame that.
One lesson I took from my childhood and have cultivated was one my mother taught me - always take care of our kids, no matter what - you are not worth what you are made of if you don't - other things will come and go, but your kids will always be there. My father taught me that it is important to be a good worker and pay your bills no matter what.
I have always tried to be a good worker. I always try to do my best at any job I do because I feel my boss has bought my time for a certain length and is paying me for it; so my wants and desires should not come above his or hers. But I can honestly say that, at times in my life, I have not always paid my bills the way I should.
I learned to be a hard worker from Barney Eagon, my boss at the Blue Top Cafe in Lamar, Missouri. He was really strict - such as standing over my shoulder an making sure I did not put one more squirt of milk in the milk shake than was supposed to go or a drop more of chocolate than was required. He taught me that the customer is the King and without the customer there is no cafe and no jobs.
Barney, unknowingly, was preparing me for the hard life I was going to face raising my kids on my own. It was like boot camp working for him; but I am thankful he was like this because when I left the Blue Top Cafe and went to other jobs in other states, I met people who did not know how to work. I can truly say that Barney Eagon is the one person who really did teach me - "how to work."
I am very thankful for the lessons I mentioned from my mother, father, and Barney. I know, that this combination is what helped me to endure and overcome the hard times I encountered while raising my children and to succeed in this effort.
Although there were some policemen who I encountered during my years of stripping who were immune for the status of "jack-off", I must honestly say that most of them were not. There was one policeman in Canton, Ohio who used to hang around me like an old hound dog. Actually, he was not a policeman but a detective. When I speak of policemen, I use the term lightly. I usually use it to cover every law enforcement agent.
This detective did not actually ask me to go to bed with him. He just hung around, I think, to be there in case I ever got in the mood. Ha!
I dressed very provocatively back in thouse days. This particular night I had on a halter top which was pink and came just a little past my breast - just enough to cover them up. It was quite thin. My little hard nipples protruded very visibly. In those days, I was past the brink of insanity. I would do almost anything to blow someone's mind.
One night while I was on my way home from the burlesk theater this particular detective I just mentioned pulled up beside me while I was stopped at the light. As we were talking and waiting for the light to change, I pulled up my top exposing my breasts. He could not say anything. He just babbled, "Uh - Uh --- !"
It made me feel good to shock people. I think maybe that is one reason I liked my job so well.
