It feels different, at least to me, maybe not to others. And that difference sort of hit me yesterday since I just got my court order on Monday.
I went to the credit union yesterday to update my account there. I signed in, waited, and was called. "You're next, ma'am." I smiled at her and went to her desk where she asked what she could do for me. I told her I had a court order for a name change. "Oh? Let me see." I think she expected a last name change. She stopped, looked at the court order, looked at me, then asked for my account number, still a bit confused. I gave it to her and she looked it up.
She looked at me and with an incredulous tone of voice I heard "You're changing this from David to Cara?" I nodded, smiled and sat there. And then I think understanding dawned. She got the biggest grin and said "Let's get this taken care of for you!" I asked her to update the gender marker on the account records too. "Don't worry, honey, I've already got that!" Her tone was sweet, very positive, and that grin stayed on her face the entire time. She helped me order new checks, get my new debit card ordered, and when we were done, she simply said, with that grin still on her face, "Congratulations."
I grinned back and thanked her and walked out the door. Somehow I think I may have been the first transwoman transitioning who she has ever helped. And I think our interaction was a very positive one. I know it was for me.
