Parting Glances
A few years ago I was invited by one of BTL's many creative editorial associates to attend what might best be labeled as an exclusive "Kink Collective Party." It was being held during Good Friday week in a rental room at Detroit's Masonic Temple.
I'm sure that this gathering of about a hundred or so BDSM devotees was a first for that once-prestigious structure, that in its glory days hosted internationally famous musicians, dancers, orchestras, conductors, ballet companies. (I heard famed soprano Maria Callas in recital there.)
My guide for this auspicious, quasi-religious occasion was avocationally involved as a non-taxable dominatrix – a Dom – when she wasn't editing, nabbing run-on sentences, torturing copy or belaboring the weekly LGBT crossword puzzle. She claimed male clients who flew in regularly for fully punctuated, non-journalistic, bold-faced, full syntax ministrations.
Curious as to just how our kinky other brethren did who, with what, with which, to whom, I agreed to tag along, provided I did not have to wear a rhinestone dog collar, a padlocked chain, sequined leather chaps or six-inch Joan Crawford, come-fondle-me high heels.
As a concession, I wore my 14-karat gold Neiman-Marcus ankle bracelet I bought when I retired to wear on extra special occasions, religious, amorous and patriotic.
I spent my time – for the most part, my presence totally ignored by bona fide celebrants in spite of my ankle bracelet – observing top/bottom combos, strap-up, lace-down costumes, 'safe word' ploys, elevated mood swings. I left that evening pretty sure that everyone seemed to be enjoying his or herself.
Actually, the Kink Collective Party may be 2015 trendy. The winter issue of Brain World: Humanity's New Frontier devotes an article to BDSM. An article quote: "A survey conducted by Dr. Andreas Wismeijer at Tilburg University, The Netherlands, found that
the people who follow BDSM lifestyle actually enjoy better mental health than people who do not participate in BDSM activities.
"Compared to their vanilla counterparts, BDSM practitioners were found to be less neurotic, more extroverted, more open to new experiences and had thicker skin when taking criticism."
The Brain World article excerpt should not be taken by BTL readers as this publication's incentive – or, my humble ankle bracelet concession – to spark up conventional vanilla sex lives, rather it's indicative of a worldwide trend (straight and gay) that's on its way to becoming yet another sexual fad. Fifty Shades of Gray!
The full article is titled "Leather, Whips, Kink, Relationships, and the Brain: A Look Into the BDSM Lifestyle," by Dinsa Sachan.
(Actually, BDSM has been a staple of many Bible Belt fundamentalist religions for decades. BDSM: Biblical Demanded Spiritual Misery. Its practitioners require wives to be subject to husbands, children to be spanked for infractions of religious beliefs, poor church members to dutifully tithe ten percent of meagre incomes and the required daily use of 'safe' words like "Have A Blessed Day" and "Love the sinner not the sin.")
Observes Sachan, "Although BDSM is a relatively new concept to go mainstream, its trappings have been with us for some time. Erotic novels and drawings involving kink activities date back to the 18th century, and painting and statues date back much earlier. Rituals consisting of self-whippings go back to the ancient Sumerian civilization." Christian penitents strappings footnoted.
"Perhaps for better of for worse, we may be in the midst of a revolution, in which kink is once again coming to light, becoming another part of everyday life." Tea party take note.
Just maybe, sir, it's time to pawn my 14-karat gold ankle bracelet. Ouch! That hurts.
