I Will Survive

Early on, this blog became about the birthdays of famous gay people, or just people that impacted my life (sometimes in just in a small way). There is a little bit of explanation to this. I don’t like holidays. Weird, I know. Most queers like to do the holidays over the top. I read a newspaper article about a gay couple in my neighborhood who have a “themed” Christmas tree in every room of their 2600 Sq,ft. house.

I do not like holidays because I feel that they are imposed on me. My least favorite holiday is Halloween, but most major holidays seem to be an excuse for loutish behavior & appliance sales. The exception is birthdays. I honor all the birthdays of my friends & family… I actually make it a “birthday week” with presents & cards on the day & “easy sailing” for the entire 7 days of the birthday week. I think this comes from my childhood disappointment of having a Christmas Holiday birthday, full of- ‘this is for Christmas & your birthday”.

Today, Labor Day (a holiday imposed on me) is the birthday of a singer that has had a major impact on me. I only have 1 song by Gloria Gaynor in my collection, but what a major song it is! I Will Survive is in my Top 10 All Time Favorites. It just hits me on a visceral level & it has since I was a tender 24 years old. I have several cover versions- from Johnny Mathis to Cake, but the original is the best & it just cuts like a knife:

At first I was afraid I was petrified
kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side;
but then I spent so many nights
thinkin' how you did me wrong
& I grew strong
& so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd have known for just one second you'd back to bother me
go on now, go walk out the door
just turn around now
you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
did I crumble?
did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive;
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive,
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
kept trying' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart,
I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry
but now I hold my head up high
& you see me somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person still in love with you,
& so you feel like droppin' in
& just expect me to be free,
now I'm savin' all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' me
go on now…

How many times in the late 70s did I dance at a disco, with some guy shoving a little brown bottle under my nose, while this tune was playing?
How many times in the past 3 decades have I gone to bed angry at the Husband with that tune spinning in my head?
It is an anthem. It is a classic. Happy Birthday Gloria Gaynor! I hope you have a glorious birthday week… I know that I will survive.