Often you are not the master of your fate when involved in a town like South Beach where social interaction is the primary, driving force. So--despite my vow not to leave the house today--Thomas Barker's plea to join his mother and sister at The Palace drag show left me no choice but to gather the strength and make the trip down. Fortunately, despite the driving rain every now and then, the place was full of extremely handsome young men and women; and that is a good thing.

Clever performers make use of the situation, whatever it is: an empty room, a rainy day, a fire in the orchestra pit. Both took umbrellas and made brief appearances during their shows on the rainy sidewalk, when....

...and in one of the most surreal things possible, three men walked by with the same umbrella. It was stunning moment where the crowd went wild and Geraldine incorporated it into her act.

Thomas' sister quickly learned how to surround herself with handsome boys and glamorous entertainers. Thomas had better watch out; I can see his family deciding "to stay", a common affliction to those of us who live here.

And, of course, my military babies, Micky and Carlito.

A fun afternoon (and an early one).