I was going to wait until later this week to post this short blog, but I'm feeling a little sentimental today. Mandy Schultz and I were very close. We worked together on many projects, had the same employer a couple of times, we were always scheming on something. Even if that scheme was just how to get our drinks for free that night.
On October 29, 2001 Mandy's body was discovered in her car down the edge of a cliff in Ramona near her parents house, she had been missing for 6 weeks (if I remember right) Mandy left us 10 years ago but her spirit will always live on in San Diego.
Mandy worked her way up the ranks to become the executive director of San Diego Pride, she was co-owner of a hamburger place called Out Burger (Mandy was a vegetarian) and Mandy also worked at AIDS Walk San Diego.
Mandy was my biggest fan, and I was hers.. She used to tell me I looked like John Travolta (when I was MUCH younger) She would make me recite lines from Saturday Night Fever and Grease. When I started doing drag she INSISTED I dress up like Dana Scully from The X-Files, Mandy was a HUGE fan of Gillian Anderson.. Somewhere I have a photo of us dressed up like the characters from X-Files that was in Buzz Magazine.
Believe it or not I wasnt a cat person back then and Mandy had this annoying long haired cat that would climb all over me, while Mandy was sitting next to me chain smoking and eating ice.. I thought I was gonna have some sort of respiratory failure. What I wouldn't give for one more night like that with Mandy.
Years ago when Mandy died I never understood how someone so talented, so outgoing, so loved could get to the place she did emotionally. In the past couple of years I think I have come to understand EXACTLY what Mandy was going through 10 years ago. Just one more way we were connected I guess.
It saddens me to know that so many of out LGBT youth will never know Mandy or who how many great things she did for us. So this was my little tribute.
This week Ill have to make sure to go to Mo's and have Mandy's signature cocktail... The Mandori up.. neither one of us really knew what was in it.. we didnt care as long as it was free we let all the bartenders think they invented it for us.
We have not forgotten you Mandy, I see this picture of you everyday.
Well, that's cool, baby. You know how it is, rockin' and rollin' and what not.
