The Woman Within

I had the wonderful opportunity, on Saturday, April 23, to attend the Transgender New Hampshire, Mini-Conference in Plymouth, NH. Held on the grounds, of Plymouth State University, it was a free, day long event with a number of speakers and breakout sessions to discuss a variety of topics relevant to the transgender community. Co-Sponsored by the NH Coalition for Transgender Equality, SAGE Center, and PSU Pride, the conference attendees also included a state representative and a legal representative from GLAD presenting the work they have been doing for the transgender community. GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) is an organization, based in Boston, Massachusetts representing the transgender community as well. They are New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression. The theme for the day was: Educating the world about who we really are! And the sessions include...

It has seemingly finally happened. I am not sure how it is that I got here but it seems, for the most part, I am here. I've reached a point where I can be out in female form and not be interpreted as anything but as a woman. One may wonder how one might know when they have achieved this point. How is it possible to know, with any level of certainty, what anyone may be thinking or surmising of one when they are out enfemme? The answer to the question is one which has been answered of late when I am out, by nothing more simple than by my voice. Interestingly, no one takes any note when I am out and quietly doing whatever it is I may be doing, whether it be shopping in the local BJ's Warehouse, to the supermarket, shopping in any number or type of stores or simply meandering in a public. The majority of this non-chalance, laissez-faire attitude by others is due in large part to my own care-free, casual and comfortable attitude. When one is comfortable with themselves, it is...

To the higher powers above, Please be advised that we have been receiving more than our fair share of shipments of 2x4's to be used in taking whacks in the lives of our combined families. Please consider spacing future shipments out over greater stretches of time as this would be more amenable to all. Your humble employee, Christen ********************** Dear Christen, We are dreadfully sorry for any pain caused by the over-shipment of 2X4 lumber! Our flunkies have been in contact with the shipping department. I am very pleased to report that the diligent oversight by this committee has paid handsome dividends. But enough about us. The aforementioned flunkies reported that the 2X4 shipment will terminate today! Commencing tomorrow, 4x4 lumber shall ship instead. Kind regards, The Grand High Supreme Exalted Executive Manglement Committee ***************** Dear Higher Power Management, Thank You for your rapid response regarding recent concerns surrounding ov...

Now they ALL know about Christen..... It has been a while since I posted but then again, it has been a rough time of late as well with the passing of my mom and the health issues with my dad. Things are starting to get back to a relative level of normalcy both physically and mentally which has been a positive uplift for me and for my spouse as well. The biggest news has been Christen's debut to the her spouse's family. It had started with my spouse telling her mother. To my surprise, her mother was absolutely fine and very understanding of my situation and felt empathy and concern for the struggles which being transgender has brought to me in my life. We had her come up to visit us and was thrilled to be able to go out to dinner with her newest daughter-in-law. It went so well that we had her up a second time to redo the adventure again, this time at our favorite Italian Restaurant on the shores of the "big lake". My mother-in-law told my spouse's oldest sister ab...

I must say that I do appreciate everyone taking the time to read my writings. They are, at the time at which I write, an emotional release and a way to document and later analyze and piece together seemingly disparate events into a more cohesive understanding holistically. I also hope that they bring some meaning and insight into others lives, such as your own in a relevant way. Certainly, feedback through relating events in one's own life and through comparative analysis has meant a lot to me as well in helping me to understand better, my own sense of self. I noted many's amazement in the rapidity in which I went from being closeted to being quite public. I can only validate this suddenness to my angst and anxiety which had been slowly and relentlessly building within me over the course of many years. It was akin to a balloon which was slowly inflated over time with pressure increasing to a point at which I could not contain it any longer. In getting out, I immediately surpris...

It has been a while since I posted but then again, it has been a rough time of late as well with the passing of my mom and the health issues with my dad. Things are starting to get back to a relative level of normalcy both physically and mentally which has been a positive uplift for me and for my spouse as well. The biggest news has been Christen's debut to the her spouse's family. It had started with my spouse telling her mother. To my surprise, her mother was absolutely fine and very understanding of my situation and felt empathy and concern for the struggles which being transgender has brought to me in my life. We had her come up to visit us and was thrilled to be able to go out to dinner with her newest daughter-in-law. It went so well that we had her up a second time to redo the adventure again, this time at our favorite Italian Restaurant on the shores of the "big lake". My mother-in-law told my spouse's oldest sister about me and, although she had a di...

We received the call Sunday night that my mother had been transferred from the nursing care facility and admitted to Newton Wellesley Hospital with a case of pneumonia. The call came while I was out dining with a friend and it shocked me to hear of the sudden change. On my ride back up the dark and empty interstate highway toward home, I received a call on the cellphone from one of the doctors attending to my mom's condition. He advised that we should consider the possibility that she might not recover and to prepare for the ultimate eventuality that she might die. It was definitely not the sort of thing one wants to hear while negotiating a dark interstate highway through the mountains. I arrived home but broke down in tears. It was the suddenness of all of this that had caught me off guard. I packed up and readied myself to head out on Monday to visit with her, hoping that I would arrive before she passed away. Amazingly, we received a call from the doctor's the next...