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“Why don’t you just watch as some of the others get painted before making up your mind? We’ve got plenty of time. People can get VERY creative. You might get some ideas that way.” Elaine suggested. It was then I had my second realty check of the morning. All of the people doing the painting in that particular yard were guys! The very thought of some strange man painting me made me even more nervous. Looking at my naked body was one thing . . . but touching it was quite another! I know, I know, what the heck was I thinking? How else can one get their body painted? Reality is often a great eye-opener.

All my fears soon vanished though. As the sun continued to rise, the surrounding neighborhood began to get filled with people – LOTS of people, all getting ready at several houses on the street. Everyone was so at ease and made me feel so comfortable. Elaine was right. You wouldn’t believe how creative people were in their paint jobs! I even saw a whole group painted up like the “Where’s Waldo” dude in the kids book with red-striped painted shirts and blue pants. What a hoot! I stood around and marveled at it all.

My husband suggested I gradually get naked in order to get more comfortable. He was right. I needed to work up to total nudity. I couldn’t just strip off right away and get painted. In fact, to be totally honest I wasn’t sure I could even do it gradually! I fumbled with my blouse and took it off and handed it to my husband followed quickly by my bra. I stood there topless in the guy’s front yard only a few feet from the street! Of course for the first, like, half hour I kept my arms across my chest trying casually to appear comfortable while maintaining my modesty. Its funny how for years I have looked at photos of public nudity events fantasizing about doing them and had even done some fairly tame, dare-like challenges. But when it comes down to really being there in a strange city and actually going through with it, you can forget about all that excitement and confidence. They’re history!

Eventually I stripped down to just my panties, my last vestige of security and talked with other participants. That helped as they were already naked and looked great. As the numbers of naked people grew, I was one of the few still partially dressed. I’m not sure what spurred me on but I finally tossed my panties to my husband. I must tell you that it was cooler than I cared for – in the low 60’s I’m guessing and for this little old Southern girl that’s cold to be without clothing. I’m used to 90’s outside.

Another fear that quickly vanished was my concern about my pubic hair. You see I have my natural hair down there. I prefer it that way, yet I know that most girls my age are bare. That’s the current trend. All my friends are constantly talking about how their boyfriends or husbands like it that way and how much trouble they have keeping it stubble-free and smooth. I worried for days about people making fun of me for still having my hair. My fears were groundless. I’m happy to say that, on the West coast anyway, there were plenty of people with full triangles. I fit right in, thank heavens.

No sooner had I stripped bare I was interrupted. “Excuse me, mind if I take your picture?” I turned around and came face to face with a man with like the biggest camera lens I had ever seen! In fact he had several cameras wrapped around his neck. I was about to politely decline when my friend Elaine spoke up and said excitedly, “Oh, take mine too!” and wrapped her arm around my waist and posed. That was permission enough for the man and he began snapping away. I wanted to die! I knew people would be taking pictures. In fact Klondike had warned me about it beforehand. Still, when it happened I wasn’t mentally prepared for it. Prior to this as far as I know, no picture of me naked has ever appeared on the Internet before. Well, I’m sure there’s one on there now I can assure you. Probably hundreds based on the huge number of people taking pictures that day! That thought alone even now can turn my stomach inside out when I think about it. I could have prevented it by just not riding in the parade, yet I did it anyway. Some kind of morbid self-destruction I guess – or maybe it was just for the THRILL of taking the risk. Whatever, deep down inside I was driven to finish this.

After that first photographer I became acutely aware of how many people were about taking pictures. In the painting area it was mostly men. Many were extremely polite and those that were close enough asked before taking a picture. I liked that. Made me feel in control a little bit, though they could have taken it anyway whether I wanted them to do it or not. There wasn’t really anything I could do about it anyway. Still it was nice to be asked. Then of course there were the few jerks that would dropdown on one knee and aim their lens directly at my crotch. One even had the nerve to rudely demand that I spread my legs because keeping them closed was ruining his shot! Paul, Elaine’s friend, soon chased him away. That little episode made me feel cheap. I hated that. I didn’t have time to dwell on that though, as there were plenty of nice people to make up for the idiots.

I kept hoping that I would run into Klondike and speak to him. I had no idea what he looked like but he said he was going to be there. That thought alone made me accept just about any photographer’s request for a picture. I kept thinking that maybe he was the one taking the picture right then. I could only imagine what he looked like – this deeply mysterious man who exerted such influence over me. I was too cautious or too chicken to speak up and ask though and I never did know for sure. As it turns out, he WAS there and took some pretty marvelous pictures of me though he didn’t know it at the time! He sent me several via e-mail. I must tell you that it is pretty unnerving looking at a naked picture of yourself that someone you don’t really even know took of you! It’s all so intimate somehow – VERY intimate and oh so revealing. There are no secrets among the nude, Hooked6 always says.

Finally it was time to get painted and I still didn’t have a clue what I wanted to look like. My husband suggested I stay away from any complicated designs. His point being that with a “busy” design no one would be able to tell that I was naked and that was the whole reason I made this trip to begin with. Once again, it was Elaine to the rescue. She suggested I start by painting myself all over with a light color. So this guy took a sponge and dipped it in paint and began rubbing it all over my body. I was about to freak every time, out of necessity, he had to touch my personal spots. When he was done I looked down. The light color didn’t do much to hide my nudity. I was too exposed for my level of comfort. Elaine suggested an occasional mark here and there in a darker color. It worked and though I wanted to be hidden more, I decided to run with it. Elaine did a similar design. I think to spare my feelings. I’m sure she could tell I was nervous and uncomfortable with all this. It was her way of showing her support.

Eventually it was time to go and get to the embarkation point or assembly area. Elaine told me the name of the place but I can’t seem to recall that right this minute. We got on our bikes and rode down the sidewalk as cars passed us on the street! At that point it wasn’t the real parade. It was just a bunch of naked people next to a public road! People were in their yards watching us pass by and many waved. I couldn’t help but wave back. In fact I did so much waving that day my arm felt as though it was going to fall off. This may sound strange, but I have never been in a parade of any kind. I have watched many, but never participated. Now, my first ever time IN a parade and I was NAKED! Go figure! How ironic is that? Now I’m not an exhibitionist in real life. In fact I dress really on the conservative side and appear quite modest in my appearance. So why ride naked? It’s just that I have this secret side of me that likes (my husband says “gets off on”) taking an occasional risk or two with my body in public, but usually these are under strictly controlled situations. This was totally different.

(See Part 3 below)