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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Trying out the turf ... Council Corner: Addressing Ashland's asphalt problem ... Walking tours take a trip back through time ... Our View: Trying out the turf ... Council Corner: Addressing Ashland's asphalt problem ... Walking tours take a trip back through time ... ROGUES: TALES FROM THE VALLEY Episode 2.2: An invitation into dad's secret closet Comment By Lyda Woods DailyTidings.com By Lyda Woods Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:54 PM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:15 PM By Lyda Woods Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:54 PM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:15 PM » Social News Episode 2.2 of the fictionalized adventures of two sisters, Dawn and Sherry, one Ashland-loving, the other Medford-bred, and their adventures across the Rogue Valley. Find prior episodes at www.dailytidings.com. Last week I decided to have a party, inviting friends to become family. Tonight was the event and I was running around cleaning the house, preparing dinner, and decorating. I’d invited Blue, Jasmine, Josh, Claire and Rusty. To my surprise, they’d all accepted. I’d created collages to give to each of them. For Blue, I’d put together images of mentorship, for Jasmine, images of adventure, for Josh, creativity, for Claire, nurturing, and for Rusty, learning. Part of me was excited; another part wanted to hide under the sofa. As I was shampooing cat barf out of the living room carpet, Blue came over to me with a letter. “Dawn, you got a letter from a law firm.” “Thanks.” I opened it and skimmed the contents. “Apparently, my dad has left me a bunch of stuff in a storage unit in Phoenix. I need to go there and sort through it by the end of the month,” I said, folding up the letter. “Any idea what’s in there?” asked Blue “Nope, but I could use a break. Wanna take a trip to Phoenix?” In the car, Blue was curious about the party. “So what is the big secret about tonight that you keep hinting at?” she asked. “I’ve decided to create my own family,” I said. “How does that work?” Blue asked. “Well, I’ve invited people I want to be in my family and I just ask them, I guess.” “So who am I?” asked Blue. “You’re like the dad I never had. You help me get my life on track. You tell me when I’m acting stupid. You listen.” “I would be happy to be your proxy dad, as long as you don’t start asking me for college loans,” Blue grinned. “I’m not looking for financial support, just connection, just mutual loving kindness,” I said. “Is there a romantic partner in this cast of characters?” Blue turned into the storage parking lot. “Nope.” “Did you get that email I sent you about that singles group? They’re going to see ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’” “Oh, yeah, nothing says romance like watching a sadistic billionaire dominate a confused virgin. Not my cup of tea.” We found dad’s locker. After opening it, using the combination in the letter, I rolled up the metal door. Inside were clothes racks with colorful blazers and velvet gowns, feathered, and sleek. I walked through the large unit, touching and admiring them. “What is all this stuff?” asked Blue. “Look, here’s a letter addressed to me.” In the center was carpeted area with a chair and full-length mirror. An envelope was taped to the glass. I opened and scanned it quickly. The contents formed a deep ache in my heart. “It’s from my dad. He says he wants me to enjoy his secret closet, that maybe I can use these outfits in my murder mystery.” “So, your dad was a cross-dresser?” Blue started looking at the sizes of the gowns. I sat down, gulping tears. Odd childhood memories started making sense, like going shopping for school clothes but ending up at Fredericks of Hollywood. I remembered seeing him try on an orange velvet blazer embroidered with gold lions, smiling at me in the mirror, asking me whether I liked it. Even at 12, I knew I was being let in on some kind of a secret, just between the two of us. Sadly, he never wore that flame-colored coat, at least in public. I doubt it would have gone over well with the stodgy country club crowd or my step-mother, for that matter. “Thanks for this gift, dad,” I said to the quiet space, “I appreciate it.”  Next week: The after-dinner conversation with the designer family drifts from Mario Savio to Silicon Valley to an offer of a bite of a tasty mystery.         By Lyda Woods DailyTidings.com By Lyda Woods Posted Mar. 9, 2015 at 8:54 PM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:15 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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