So, I'm ready to update everyone on how Hayleigh and I survived our trip for me to meet her family and for her family to meet her for the first time.
A couple weeks ago, Hayleigh told her sister and mother on the phone about her experimenting and beginning the transition. It just so happened that we were able to work it out this last weekend to go give them the first look before she starts going "facebook public".
We left Houston at 5am on Saturday and drove straight through to Panama City, FL. We arrived about 2:30pm. We checked into our hotel, unpacked our clothes, and took a nice long nap. We woke up around 6:30pm, got dressed and went down to the beach. We ate dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. We had a great experience, the staff was nice, although our waiter was less then attentive, I don't think it was us. He didn't seem attentive to any of his tables. We decided to just go back to the hotel and watch TV and fell asleep around midnight.
We woke up around 9am Sunday. It took us forever to get ready and we were struggling getting a time to meet at her sister's house that afternoon. So around 1 pm we got to the beach areas and decided to go to Race City. It is a little fair/amusement park. It has 4 adult go kart race tracks, bumper boats, bumper cars, putt putt golf, a haunted house, and about 10 fair rides. We bought the all day wrist bands ( $40 each) and with in 3 hours got our money's worth plus more. IT WAS AMAZING! The staff was not only nice, but went out of their way to get us on rides, give us longer rides when people were not waiting, and every single time, called us "ladies" without flinching! We were so impressed and shocked, we told one of the mangers on duty, and he thanked us for our kind words, and asked if we would tell the General Manager/Owner. We went into the arcade area, found him, and told him also. It was hilarious because his response was:
GM: "Really? I can't believe that! There is always one ->-bleeped-<- who ruins it!"
Me: "Really! No one was an ->-bleeped-<- today! They were all on top game!"
GM: "That is crazy, that never happens! Thank you!"
We tried getting a hold of sister to find out if she had told Hayleigh's nephew (N, 10 years old) yet, and she hadn't. We decided we would just tell N about it and asked her just to give him a heads up. We grabbed some food (amazing wait staff this time!) and called as we were leaving the restaurant. Sister still hadn't said anything, so we told her to say, "Uncle Tom will be here soon. He has some big news to tell you, but wanted you to know he is going to looke very VERY different, and not to be shocked." Finally she did, and when we got there, he was home alone. We think that Mom and sister did that on purpose so that we could talk to N in private. N didn't even flinch or care. He just wanted access to some video game passwords! We asked if it was ok with his mom if he wanted to come to Houston for part of the summer and he was jumping up and down, almost screaming yes! We asked if he was OK with everything and his response was:
N: "So, it's kinda like a sex change?"
Hayleigh: "Well, yes but no. I still have all my parts. I will explain all of that when you are a little older. I just want to know that you are comfortable."
N: "As long as you are happy. It's not my place to judge you."
Me: "Oh my, he is 10 going on 30!"
We told N that Tom is going by Hayleigh, and everyone has to called her that now, except him. Since they are so close, N can call her Uncle Tom until he gets used to it. About that time, Mom, sister, and sister's husband arrived back from the store. N ran to the door, and said, "They are here! And all of you have to call him Hayleigh, but I get to call him Uncle Tom still!"
We had a good visit. Mom is quite sick and lost a bunch of weight, and was complaining about not having much boob left. Hayleigh was like, just do what I do, stuff! Mom walked over, looked down her shirt, and insisted on seeing the padding she uses. Mom took the padding out of her hand, stuffed it in her own bra, and left to check herself out in the mirror! LOL
After a while, the dog started barking and conversation had dissolved to trying to talking in circles about nothing, so we decided to go. It was getting late, and Hayleigh wanted to show me her favorite beach spot before we left. As we were leaving, we asked sister if we could take N for part of the summer, and she was more than happy to get him out of her hair for a week or so!
Mom walked us out to the car, and the following conversation happened:
Hayleigh: Mom, are you sure your good with all this?
Mom: Why not? It's not like you're gay or anything.
(H and I look at each other and laugh)
H: Well, actually, I am a girl and so is Chris, so we are lesbians.
M: Do you still have normal sex?
(Another laugh)
Both: Um... Yes, oh yes
M: Then you are not! It's just like the way those crazy black people dress. I think it's weird, but they are not hurting me, so it's none of my business!
H: I love you mom... (shakes head)
Me: It was so nice to meet you! (hug)
Hayleigh and I got in the car and busted out laughing.
We went to the beach. Had many moments. Some happy, some sad, some romantic. Went back to the hotel. Sleep. Woke up, packed, and were on the road by 9am.
Around Biloxi, we got pulled over (have no idea why, even now!) The cop was NICE and RESPECTFUL! And curious! Hayleigh was driving, and when he asked for her DL, she handed it to him, and said "Just so it's not awkard, I am TG." The cop called in the DL number, and asked her to get out of the car. He asked her a ton of questions. Then came and asked me a ton of questions. Hayleigh told me that after he talked to me, he came back and was asking how meeting the in laws went for me and how they were dealing with seeing him as a girl. He asked if it was possible to change her DL, how much work it was, how much it cost, etc. They talked for like 5 minutes, and all I could see in the mirror was Hayleigh talking and the cop leaning on the hood of his SUV, totally enthralled by the whole thing. They shook hands, and he took off! This resulted in a "What the f*** just happened?" moment before we could continue driving!
The rest the drive was uneventful. We made it back in time for our TG support group, shared what happened, and headed home.
