Transitioning at work and in all of my life

[Danya (imported)]

In parts of the frigid northland, GRS is not a requirement to have the Sex designation changed on your license. Cross-gender hormone therapy is enough proof of sex, as far as driving a car goes!

My new license came today and my sex is now female. I am really happy about this. Now I can throw away

the 'bathroom letter' from my therapist.

That certifies that I am a pre-operative transsexual woman and as such I am entitled to all the rights and privileges of a woman.

I never figured out w

hat all of those rights and privileg

es are. No one ever questioned my presence in the ladies rest room, but using that facility is one of the rights of transsexual women. It is protected by state law, regardless of surgical status.

[Danya (imported)]

Today was extremely cold; the temperature never warmed to 0 degrees F. Then there was the wind chill of -18 degrees. At least the sun was shining and there was liquid water falling from the sun-warmed stone facing of my office building.

I knew what the weather would be like when I dressed this morning. Nonetheless, I bravely (foolishly?) decided to wear nylons and heels with a long skirt and a nice top. I wore a very warm coat, although that did not extend to the bottom of the skirt.

About an hour before sunset, I walked two whole blocks outside to get to my pharmacy. This is my first full winter identifying as Danya. Knowing I was nicely dressed even in the extreme cold caused me to laugh, once I got inside. Now that I think about it, I was smiling even as I crossed the street.

For some reason, this experience made me happy. I guess I felt that not even the very cold weather was going to stop me from being myself.

[twaddler (imported)]

"

It is then that I yearn to feel safe within the embrace of someone's arms.

"

That really can make such a difference. But I suppose cannot something that one relies on altogether.

[ramses (imported)]

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I imagine that for many, Christian or not, the promise in this verse has a powerful attraction. Who would not want to be set free, after all? Maybe there are those, however, who fear real freedom.

How many people can say that they are free? How many have no more than a inkling, and perhaps then only occasionally, that they are not free?

Reading this post made me immediately thing of Janis Joplin's "bobby McGee" where she says, "Freedom's just another word for Nothing left to lose." For some reason that one line has always stuck with me.

I don't chime often on your thread but I follow it with admiration for you and the strength you have had to do what you have to do. You have come so far since you joined us here and it has been a joy to follow your progress. On the other hand, it has filled me with sorrow at times as I read about some of the issues with your family.

It takes some people a while to get their heads around some things. My mom left my dad when I was 14, for another woman. Her entire family is hard core Mormon and they didn't take it to well. That was in 1984.

This past sunday, all of her brothers, sisters and most of their children and grand children were at HER house for a family get together. Her "friend" Fifi (funny name for a woman as butch and redneck as she is) was there and is very accepted by the whole clan.

So don't give up. There is hope for even the most thick headed. Just keep them at a distance because you have enough to deal with while transitioning than to deal with THEIR problems and ignorance. I wish you a happy holliday and wish I could give you a BIG hug.

Love, Ramses

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

Danya, you need to work on your winter wardrobe. It gets much colder and darker with lower windchill. I don't want you to get frostbite by staying fashonable. --FLO--

[Eunic JHD (imported)]

I have even been caught enjoying the Beach Boys' "The Little St. Nick". I draw the line, though, at the dog barking out "Jingle Bells".

For some reason only some corporate broadcasting genious knows, the local stations here have been playing Gayla Peevey's 1953 "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." The song was actually a promotional song to try and get a Hippopotomus for the Oklahoma City Zoo. The Hippo is probably long gone, but unfortunately the song lives on. They play it at least twice an hour oblivious to it's history. :-\

[Danya (imported)]

"

It is then that I yearn to feel

safe within the embrace of someone's arms.

"

That really can make such a difference. But I su

ppose cannot something that one relies on altogether.

Greetings postatracura,

I have relied nearly entirely on myself for the last 12 years. One of the positives of transitioning is a new found need to spend more time socializing. After an evening out, though, I still like to get home for some alone time.

Having a special someone in my life would be wonderful. I don't think it would be healthy for me to rely totally on someone else.

Hugs,

Danya

[Danya (imported)]

Reading this post made me immediately thing of Janis Joplin's "bobby McGee" where she says, "Freedom's just another word for Nothing left to lose." For some reason that one line has always stuck with me.

I don't chime often on your thread but I follow it with admiration for you and the strength you have had to do what you have to do. You have come so far since you joined us here and it has been a joy to follow your progress. On the other hand, it has filled me with sorrow at times as I read about some of the issues with your family.

It takes some people a while to get their heads around some things. My mom left my dad when I was 14, for another woman. Her entire family is hard core Mormon and they didn't take it to well. That was in 1984.

This past sunday, all of her brothers, sisters and most of their children and grand children were at HER house for a family get together. Her "friend" Fifi (funny name for a woman as butch and redneck as she is) was there and is very accepted by the whole clan.

So don't give up. There is hope for even the most thick headed. Just keep them at a distance because you have enough to deal with while transitioning than to deal with THEIR problems and ignorance. I wish you a happy holliday and wish I could give you a BIG hug.

Love, Ramses

Dear Ramses,

Thank you for your sensitive and kind words. So much has changed in my life since I first started posting. It means a lot to know that you, and others, read some of what I write. Then I know I have support along my journey. Knowing that people here are happy for me is a

powerful affirmation of who I am.

Thanks for sharing the difficult story of your own family. I am glad your mom and her partner have been accepted by the rest of her family.

You have wise advice about handling my own family issues. I appreciate your taking the time to offer that. What you say is important to me because you clearly understand difficult family situations.

Thanks for the holiday wishes. If you were here, I would want to hug you, too. Your post gave me much joy.

I wish you love, peace and much happiness for the holidays and in the new year.

Hugs,

Danya

[Danya (imported)]

Danya, you need to work on your winter wardrobe. It gets much colder and darker with lower windchill. I don't want you to get frostbite by staying fashonable. --FLO--

It is always good to hear from you, Uncle Flo. I am near the end of my budget for winter clothing. I do have a number of very warm things to wear, though. The one thing I may still purchase is a pair of decent boots for those walks in the snow.

After I wrote about my stroll in the frigid air, I realized it had been a way of proving something to myself. That I can handle any adversity that comes my way. I was laughing because I did not allow the bitterly cold air to affect who I am. I took that to mean, in part, how I dressed.

These are trying times and I am determined to let nothing stand in my way.

Another friend commented that

now that I have made my point and proven myself in the cold, snow and ice I don't ever need to do that again! He was concerned, as you are, that I be careful in the cold and dress appropriately.

I really appreciate your concern and I will be more careful.

Hugs,

Danya

[Danya (imported)]

....

For some reason only some corporate broadcasting genious knows, the local stations here have been playing Gayla Peevey's 1953 "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." ...

Hi Eunic,

That song title gave me my laugh for the day. I can't say I've ever heard this one, but that's probably OK.

Hugs,

Danya