As a kid, I was always being mistaken for a girl. In the summer of 1972, when I was 12 years old, my older cousin asked if I would go to the mall with her to do some shopping. When I came out of my room in a halter top, short shorts and girly flip-flops, she was a bit surprised but accepted me as I was. She was a good friend then, and a great lady now. To this day, she's the only family member I have that knows my little secret.