Cheri

 

In that past century the initials RHIP were understood by anybody. It meant “rank has its privileges”. My life as a photographer has given me plenty of that.

In the late 70s I was perhaps the only man in Vancouver allowed to take photographs in the hotel dressing rooms where our marvellous ecdysiasts danced. I was a fan of ecdysiasts and many of them became my trusted friends who allowed this bungler to learn his craft of taking portraits, etc.

One of them, Cheri had a face that for me is pure Gioconda Gheradini. Her enigmatic expression assured me that had I played strip poker with her I would have lost all of my clothes.

My RHIP status means that tomorrow I am being invited to attend an ecdysiast reunion. I will see after many years some old friends.

Former Vancouver Magazine editor Malcolm Parry would say that I will have a privileged position.