Ava Adore

On Strength

<sub>“You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet.” —Fight Club.

“But I’m still here and you’re still here and if you’re reading this, it means you never gave up. Because you’re stronger than they think you are. Because you’re stronger than you think you are.” —Christopher Gutierrez.</sub>

Sometimes the job tries to get the best of you. Sometimes a guy’s above and beyond the call of asshole. Or maybe it’s your second or third night and you just feel so lost, like you can’t possibly hack this job. Or maybe it’s your seventh month and suddenly you feel lost and like you can’t possibly hack this job.

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Obs: Camaraderie

The girls at the House are really unusual. Not only are we all really, really good looking (and if you didn’t say that in a Zoolander accent, shame on you), 98% of us are total sweethearts who actually care about and look after one another there.

We all have those nights. Nights where you will feel ashamed that you’re crying in the locker room. It will be rare, but it will happen.

Nights you just got into a huge fight with your roommate and its irreconcilable and you used to work together and now you don’t. Or maybe the night your exboyfriend calls and threatens your life. Or maybe the night your kid is sick and you feel helpless.

Sometimes it feels like a sorority of skin, these girls, your sisters. You don’t start out knowing them, but you do in time, these girls slow to unfurl; and when they are gone a few too many days, you start to worry about them. I care more for these girls than any other coworkers I’ve had.

I think it’s because we all share something deeper: there’s something to this that I just can’t explain… and I do wonder if it’s a culture particular to the House. I hear about some catty clubs, some cutthroat clubs. But not ours, and that’s why Lilah and I chose it.

I do hope that somewhere, in other clubs, is a drunken cuddly Ds. ready to help and to listen; I hope there’s an Ag. to talk some loving common sense into a dramatic situation; a Da. with a smile and tight arms for hugging.

I hope for a club where not only your bouncers and managers protect you, but you feel protected by the very bond you share with your coworkers. As Da. said last night, “I don’t know if it’s different other places—but I know I’m happy for it here.”