By John Hayden

This month we celebrate the greatest resurrection in at least two millennia. Sushi, the beloved Key West Queen of New Year’s Eve, is alive and kicking, despite reports to the contrary.

“I’m alive! I’m still alive,” Sushi (aka Gary Marion) said from his fab home.

In the December issue, OutClique said she was dead. Children stayed home from school, adults openly wept in the streets and the glitter market tanked. Turns out, it was all a mistake.

Death Becomes Her

I authored a story previewing New Year’s Eve entertainment at Bourbon St. in Key West, and mentioned that a new queen would be in Sushi’s old shoe. In the editorial process, someone added in the tidbit that Sushi was replaced because she died.

I was gobsmacked when a mutual friend approached me at a holiday party, looked me in the eye and said, “You know, Sushi’s not dead.” “Okay, I didn’t say she was.” “Yes, you did,” he replied. A moment later he had a copy of the issue which says, “After Sushi’s passing, Key West performers have continued to honor her legacy..”

Perhaps the only person more surprised than me was Miss Sushi herself. “I guess I’m dead!” Luckily, she’s a good sport.

“I thought it was really funny. I liked that you described me as a legend!” A living legend at that. “I didn’t take offense. At least they’re still talking about me.”

Sushi first got in the shoe when she was a mere 30-years-old and celebrated 25 New Years. “After 25 years, I’m done. I told them I was ready to retire. I want to do something different.”

She’s spent New Year in Paris, Japan, and Vegas since leaving the Conch Republic. But she’ll come back eventually. “For the 50th shoe drop I’ll be 80 years old. I’m supposed to get back in the shoe then. Unless you write my obituary.”

Sushi also found out I’ve won an award for obituary writing and is requesting I write her up so she can approve. That project is underway, but hopefully won’t be published for a long, long time.

This type of error isn’t unprecedented. In 1897, fellow writer Mark Twain famously said “the report of my death was an exaggeration,” after the New York Journal reported Twain was very sick in London and asked his publisher to confirm his death.

He was 62 at the time and went on to live another 13 years. Here’s to many more happy new years for our girl Sushi.