The Best Revenge by Duxoop Douglas As of Thursday, August 31, 2023, it will be exactly 20 years since I made my public singing debut. I've enjoyed telling the story of that night many times, and this seemed like a good time to type it all out for all my friends. Enjoy. Part 1: Before That Night At the time I lost my mom to medical incompetence in March 2002, I had been in a long-distance relationship with someone for 14 years. Ma's abrupt end made me realize that life was too short to keep waiting for said someone's and my combined circumstances to allow us to be together. That summer we mutually decided I should explore other options. But there were plenty of obstacles involved. I was extremely socially anxious/awkward, I didn't drink (I got embarassingly drunk at 15 and didn't want to surrender control to any substance afterwards) and can't breathe cigarette smoke, so bars weren't an option. One of my friends sang karaoke and kept trying to talk me into i...