First Time Meeting Angela

It was August 1998 and I went to the Gay Games in Amsterdam. Not because I was looking for a girlfriend, no, just because I wanted to be there.
I don't know if that makes sense, but it did for me.

Going there had almost not happened, because I became quite ill just a couple of weeks before the Gay Games. Asthma, hay fever, flu, everything came together. But I wanted to go, no matter what. Even if it would mean being sick for weeks afterwards. I just HAD to go there. At least that was how I felt it.

Well, luckily it went gradually better with me, I didn't feel 100%, but hey, never mind.

I had asked a friend of mine whether I could sleep at her place during the Gay Games, because I lived too far away from Amsterdam to travel back and forth, especially if it would become late in the evenings. She asked her parents and they told me that it was ok, I could sleep at their place. I was so happy, because that would mean that I could just come and go when I liked, enjoying the week even more.

I went to Amsterdam and it was the most wonderful week of my life (at least then, I have had many after then)!
It was summer in Amsterdam, and then I really mean summer. The whole week, at least I can't remember a day that it rained. It was great meeting a lot of nice people and hearing a lot of stories. Just looking around you and seeing everyone happy and cheery...it was just like one big happy family. And the great thing was that all people were there, lesbian and gay people, but also heterosexual people and families with children. It was one big party, even the police wanted to work extra, because they liked it so much. There was almost no crime whatsoever, so the police just partied with us and had a great time.

Anyway, the day I arrived in Amsterdam and walked around Friendship Village (as it was dubbed) I knew I wanted to be part of this. So I went to the job agency in the middle of Friendship Village and asked them whether they still needed volunteers. Well, they did so I told them that I wanted to take part. The rest of the week I helped in a market stall giving people information and selling banners and flags.

It was great! I got to work with nice people,being part of something as big as that is just brilliant and you are not walking around on your own. It was also outside in the sunshine, so I couldn't have wished for more.

Skip to the end of the week....

I was so tired, almost every evening it had been late, every morning it had been early, but wow, it was worth it!
The last day that it was officially open it was again marvellous whether. I was wearing open shoes and summer clothing. I had put suntan lotion on my arms and face and neck, but not on my feet, because I thought that they were under the stall in the shade. Stupid me...if the sun is behind you then that is not the case! Anyway, the whole day I had been busy outside, that evening was the Closing Ceremony in the Amsterdam Arena. It was great, we went there with the whole bunch with whom I had worked and with like thousands other people and there was a great atmosphere. After the closing ceremony there was an after party, which meant standing on your feet for about the rest of the night. The after party finished around 6 A.M. and at 11 A.M. I had to be in Friendship Village again, so I just walked there. Public transport would have been quicker, but we were with a couple of people, great weather and enough time anyway. I already noticed though, that walking became increasingly difficult. My feet hurt and I could see that they were quite a bit more thick than would normally be the case. Stupid me didn't think anything of it though, I had partied all night, what do you expect?

Well, as you can imagine... it went from bad to worse. I guess it was already about noon that I couldn't stand on my feet anymore and I couldn't have them in the sun either. It just hurt too much. My colleagues already asked me whether I wanted to go home but I didn't. I wanted to stay there until it was all finished, didn't want to go away prematurely. What could they do? They put me in the office and told me that I could mind the phone. So at least I would still be there and still be busy. They also gave me a bucket with cold water and told me to put my feet in there. Well, that helped a bit, at least it didn't feel too bad anymore. My feet were just bright red, burned like I don't know what. I had been standing in the sun all day and had gone on through the night. They were about twice the size they normally are...

Well, the afternoon came to a close and it was time for everyone to go home and reflect on the week. To be sad that it was already over. But I had a problem, because I couldn't wear my shoes anymore and that friend of mine lived some distance away.

Then suddenly this woman came walking past and asked me what the hell I had done. I told her the story and she said that she could take me home. But I had to wait a while, she was still busy cleaning up. Well, I accepted because she looked trustworthy enough and so when she was done I got in the car with her and she drove me to my friend's house. My friend told her to come in, they immediately looked at my foot and knew it was not good but we chatted away with the woman who had delivered me to their house. Her name was Angela (as it still is today). She had the video tape of the opening ceremony so we watched that and chatted a bit about the Gay Games itself. I told her that I would like to have a copy of the tape and so we exchanged addresses and phone numbers before she left. I thanked her and she walked out of the door.

As soon as the door was shut my friend asked me: "Isn't she something for you?" to which I replied: "I don't know, I think she would be too old for me."

I didn't feel anything for her at that moment, so that was that...or so I thought!