Cherdonna shortly after discovering a bunny in her backyard.
Cherdonna shortly after discovering a bunny in her backyard. Courtesy of Cherdonna

Good morning. It's Sunday, April 26, and today's message comes from the dancer and eyelash enthusiast Cherdonna.

"Good morning! Hello. Wow. I'm so happy to be here. I love you, Seattle. I wish I could see all your faces but I can't because it wouldn't be safe," Cherdonna says.

"We all have to feel success in some kind of way, and sometimes success is taking a shower. Sometimes it's looking at a peanut. Sometimes it's smelling some soup. And sometimes it's just sitting down on the ground."

In order to feel some success today, Cherdonna decided to turn her backyard into an obstacle course.

Cherdonna also thanks everyone on the frontlines. To medical people, grocery store people, bus drivers, all the people helping us move around the city, and restaurants still making us food, she says, "I'm sending you so much love."

She adds, "And families who are now home and having to have their kids do school from home, and that is very hard. And then also the people who are just by themselves, and trying to figure out what to do and how to stay connected."

Cherdonna in a grocery store in 2014, when toilet paper aisles were more plentiful.
Cherdonna in 2014, an era when toilet paper was more plentiful. Kelly O

If Cherdonna is new to you, read this 2014 profile.

Part drag queen, part contemporary dance, and part performance art, Cherdonna Shinatra is a queer, femme, contemporary dancer who uses clowning, drag, theater, comedy, performance art, camp, pop culture, gay culture, dance traditions, feminist traditions, absurdity, and subversive commentary to make art. Cherdonna is a persona created by Jody Kuehner to explore and question our world.

Over the last 15 years, Kuehner has created and performed over a dozen evening-length works and performance installations, and all of them are up on her Vimeo.

You can also follow her on Instagram.

That whole photoshoot was amazing. The mist??
This whole 2014 photoshoot was amazing. The mist?? Photo by Kelly O

Thank you, Cherdonna, for the message, and the irrepressible spirit in the face of obstacles, and the love you sent out to so many people this morning.

Have a good Sunday, everyone.

Here's hoping you discover a bunny in your own yard.



* *
Previously in this series:


Lorena Gonzálezs message to the city on April 24.
Lorena González's message to the city on April 24.

Clyde Petersens message to the city on April 23.
Clyde Petersen's message to the city on April 23.

David Ritts message to the city on April 22.
David Ritt's message to the city on April 22.

Sara Porkalobs message to the city on April 21.
Sara Porkalob's message to the city on April 21.

Julia Sweeneys message to the city on April 20.
Julia Sweeney's message to the city on April 20.

Linda Derschangs message to the city on April 19.
Linda Derschang's message to the city on April 19.

Molly Sidess message to the city on April 18.
Molly Sides's message to the city on April 18.

Nick Garrisons message to the city on April 17.
Nick Garrison's message to the city on April 17.

Tomo Nakayamas message to the city on April 16.
Tomo Nakayama's message to the city on April 16.

Rebecca M. Daviss message to the city April 15.
Rebecca M. Davis's message to the city April 15.

Heather McHughs message to the city on April 14.
Heather McHugh's message to the city on April 14.

Brandon ONeills message to the city on April 13.
Brandon O'Neill's message to the city on April 13.

Kate Wallichs message to the city on April 12.
Kate Wallich's message to the city on April 12.

Rebecca Browns message to the city on April 11.
Rebecca Brown's message to the city on April 11.

Lucien Postlewaites message to the city on April 10.
Lucien Postlewaite's message to the city on April 10.

Betty Wetters message to the city on April 9.
Betty Wetter's message to the city on April 9.

Amanda Morgans message to the city on April 8.
Amanda Morgan's message to the city on April 8.

Nancy Guppys message to the city on April 7.
Nancy Guppy's message to the city on April 7.

Jonathan Bisss message to the city on April 6.
Jonathan Biss's message to the city on April 6.

Chris Jeffriess message to the city on April 5.
Chris Jeffries's message to the city on April 5.

Lesley Hazletons message to the city on April 4.
Lesley Hazleton's message to the city on April 4.

John Rodericks message to the city on April 3.
John Roderick's message to the city on April 3.

Bill Cartys message to the city on April 2.
Bill Carty's message to the city on April 2.

Price Suddarths message to the city on April 1.
Price Suddarth's message to the city on April 1.

Kary Waysons message to the city on March 31.
Kary Wayson's message to the city on March 31.

Ellen Forneys message to the city on March 30.
Ellen Forney's message to the city on March 30.

Major Scaless message to the city on March 29.
Major Scales's message to the city on March 29.

E. J. Kohs message to the city on March 28.
E. J. Koh's message to the city on March 28.

Ken Jenningss message to the city on March 27.
Ken Jennings's message to the city on March 27.

Demarre McGills message to the city on March 26.
Demarre McGill's message to the city on March 26.

Lynn Sheltons Message to the City on March 25th.
Lynn Shelton's Message to the City on March 25th.

Timothy White Eagles message to the city on March 24.
Timothy White Eagle's message to the city on March 24.

Cookie Coutures message to the city on March 23.
Cookie Couture's message to the city on March 23.

Sarah Rudinoffs message to the city on March 22.
Sarah Rudinoff's message to the city on March 22.

John Osebolds message to the city on March 21.
John Osebold's message to the city on March 21.


Ben Gibbards message to the city on March 21.
Ben Gibbard's message to the city on March 20.

Nathan Chans message to the city on March 19.
Nathan Chan's message to the city on March 19.