Going for the big one

[Janes Groove]

Many felicitations on "being the change you want to see in the world."
I agree with Lemur.  It took a lot of guts.

[HappyMoni]

Wow, I'm away from the forum a few days and wow! Good on ya Kathy! I know, at times, you are probably wishing all the coming out is over, but it really is an exciting time of lifting the weight off your shoulders. I look back at my time now with great fondness at how it felt. I am so glad you are living your dream, Sweetie!
Moni

[KathyLauren]

Thanks, everyone!

I'm still getting used to the idea of freedom.  "He" reasserted himself last night, and I had a major "OMG, what did I do?" moment.  But Kathy is back in the driver's seat today.  She's kinda unstoppable.

Now, I have to get used to being Kathy as something routine.  First up, taking the cat to the vet for a checkup.  On the way back, stopping in at the jeweller's to pick up a pendant that I had them make from a man's ring that I had.  I'll be able to explain with visuals why I no longer wanted the ring!  I'll be coming out all over town for a while.

Tonight, the locals will get to meet Kathy for the first time.  The ones who didn't get it yesterday, and the ones who haven't heard yet are going to get an eyeful!

[KathyLauren]

Update:

The community dinner tonight went much better than I had expected.  Quite a few people went out of their way to come over and say 'hi'.  Everyone we knew we could count on was there.  Of the people we hadn't been sure about, all were friendly to my face.  What they say among themselves when they get home I don't worry about too much. 

There were some people we knew would try to avoid us, no surprises there.  And I caught a few people staring.  To be expected.

[JeanetteLW]

  Yup Kathy, I would color that a SUCCESS!  Good Job!! You've gone and done it now.
  Freedom!

  Hugs,
   Jeanette

[Devlyn]

This is by far the best thread going on the site right now. And then Jeanette's breakfast thread!  . Keep slaying them, Kathy! You're making us all proud. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[KathyLauren]

Thanks for the Woodstock clip, Jeanette!  Though I was too young to attend, it made a big impression on me.  I have the movie on DVD.  When I first heard Ritchie Havens' 'Freedom', years ago, I didn't care for it.  But it sure is growing on me these days!

[AnneK]

Though I was too young to attend, it made a big impression on me.

I was too young too, but I love this version of the Joni Mitchell song.


BTW Joni never made it to Woodstock.  Apparently her manager said she shouldn't go.

[JeanetteLW]

Thanks for the Woodstock clip, Jeanette!  Though I was too young to attend, it made a big impression on me.  I have the movie on DVD.  When I first heard Ritchie Havens' 'Freedom', years ago, I didn't care for it.  But it sure is growing on me these days!

It wasn't one of my faves either but it seemed appropriate here.

I was only a couple hundred miles from Woodstock when it was going on and did not know it   My parents would not have let me go anyway but darn it all anyway! This was my musical era. My fave band was the doors. I was about to start my senior year in high school in Bristol , Rhode Island having just moved there from Hawaii.  We got around.

Hugs,
   Jeanette

[KathyLauren]

Thanks for that clip, Anne!     The MSC version is the definitive version of that song.  I heard Iain Matthews play a solo gig in Calgary about 15 years ago.  For an encore, he did an a capella version of Woodstock.  You should have heard the audience go nuts when he started singing!

[AnneK]

I was only a couple hundred miles from Woodstock when it was going on and did not know it

Me too.  Also, I was only 15 at the time and only heard of it well after the fact.

[AnneK]

The MSC version is the definitive version of that song.

While JM was a great song writer, I never cared for her singing.  The version I heard most was CSN&Y, but I always preferred this one.

[KathyLauren]

Getting back to the present...

The final piece of my coming out was to the local volunteer fire department tonight.  If there was any resistance, that is where it would be.  Most had already heard either through gossip or through  Facebook.  I had a lot of support from the Chief and from the female members.  Most of the male members were fine, too.  A few are puzzled, and the chaplain obviously is not happy, but knows he is outnumbered.

We were trying on sample clothing for new uniforms.  I took a couple of samples and went into the Ladies' to try them on.  One of the puzzled males saw me coming out and said "You're supposed to use the Men's".  (He is mentally challenged and has poor filters.)  I just grinned and said, "Not any more!"

It was the monthly business meeting tonight, so I raised my transition as new business so that everyone knows right from the source what's up, but also to get it inserted into the minutes so that, if there ever is a problem, there's a record to substantiate a human rights action.

I am quite happy with how it went.

[JeanetteLW]

  Dang Kathy you keep amazing me. You are doing this! 100% in and pushing strongly forward.
  (clap  clap  clap) you go girl.

How about coming to Oregon and doing it for me?  LOL

   HUG, ((HUG)),
   Jeanette

[Rayna]

Yeah you guys could do a makeover together lol

[JeanetteLW]

   Randy!!

[KathyLauren]

Yeah you guys could do a makeover together lol

Bwah-ha-ha!  You beat me to it!   

[JeanetteLW]

Bwah-ha-ha!  You beat me to it!   

  Does that mean you are on your way to Oregon to visit Kathy?

Hugs,
    Jeanette

[KathyLauren]

  Does that mean you are on your way to Oregon to visit Kathy?

While I appreciate the invitation, we'll just have to compare makeover results online.  It will be at least a couple of years before my documents are in order to even think about crossing borders.