[Lynn]

Women's Music was so defining for us. We had a local college radio show that, every Sunday, played all the great music and had guests like Meg, Alix Dobkin, and Ferron when she came to town. I played Cris Williamson over and over again--"Sweet Woman" made me swoon every time. When I came out, the first thing I did (and I mean this literally), was find "Changer and the Changed" on CD (much of the old music is at cdbaby.com). We had one of those small, dark bars with a jukebox and nothing much to eat. Just lots of smoke and steamy dancing. Again, defining. I never got to Michigan, but I remember a drive back and forth to a music festival in MA, with lots of stages, many outhouses, and hardly anyone with a shirt on. One important memory, when I was coming out again, was how one woman in particular made me feel any time I was within view of her. She was a big, beautiful butch and in her presence, I could barely breathe. I didn't know what that was.... Now, with life and experience behind me, I can recognize this as the first time I really felt true attraction and desire.