"The Stripper"

Metallica-Turn The Page

Only a hand full of close friends and family know that I was married to a "stripper", a label pinned on the women who participate in this form of adult entertainment, a label of some low rated opinions in fine print. What bothered me most about this imagery is that most of those who have judged these women were the patrons who paid their hard earned dollars for the lap dances and private sessions. Granted, there are those women who are probably deserving of this criticism, but I can't help but wonder and even believe that something happened, a string of events, that brought them to make the choices they have made in their lives. Everyone is motivated by something.

My life with her was short lived but not for the reason you may think. The place where we met was only a place I went to hang out with a couple of friends from time to time and shoot some pool. I would spend a few bucks every now and then for a lap dance but that was the extent of my patronage with the ladies. My point is, I wasn’t “looking”. But, I found it, or it found me. She and I began to chat when I would come to play. After a while we became quite close, friends, if you will. While I was with her as a friend and then as a husband, I learned a great deal about her (their) lifestyle and some of the motivations that brought them to where they were. I also learned a great deal about myself in dealing with trust.

I had always thought that jealousy was only a lack of trust. I found that to be very true. If you trust in someone with all of your heart then jealousy will never be an issue. It’s true! Trust me! I knew the business she was in and her motives. I was never jealous. When her work was done, she would come home to me and that’s all that mattered. It was actually one of the most liberating feelings I had ever experienced, to allow someone be who they are without limitations imposed. She was mature enough to do that all on her own.

The reason very few know this fact about my life isn’t because I am ashamed because I am certainly not. I do have my dark side that only God above knows about but if anyone wants to know anything about me, all they have to do is ask. Maybe one day I will share why our marriage ended, but I will leave this for you to ponder…it wasn’t because of her or me.