Closer to the edge

[Wendy C]

I was going to wait untril the name change to post on this but things just started moving faster than I would have liked. I at least had a little respite and time to sit back, relax and evaluate things though. Whew!

This month was to be the name change month but I talked with my wife and we agreed to go for Jan-Feb because of the Holidays and the fact that Ill have to renew my DL in Feb anyway. And Im cool with that.

And much has been going on, She decided she wanted to move into a spare bedroom and bought herself a mattress/boxspring set and she has made it clear more than once that she cares for me now as a friend, not as a spouse and knowing her I can not expect much more than that. She doesnt back off from decisions once she gets it in her mind to do something.

Beings that happened, I boxed up all the male clothes with the exception of some jeans and my issued work clothes and packed them off to the Goodwill. I got my response back from my HR office and a response from a query they had to Washington to the OPM on insurance and everything is good to go on that. They sent me a Memo saying they would try to make things as smooth as possible and work through the hiccups. lol.

A Church Elder from my Church that I havent been to in a year since the Pastor refused me Communion came by and caught me at a bad time. You know, hair a mess, in PJ's, last night makeup still on, etc.    And He didnt even know who I was at first and asked for my wife as Mrs .....  I knew at that instant that it has gone as far I can take it in this small town so I told him exactly who I am, the gender I know I am and what my intentions were. Cats out the bag fer sure now. I knew by the end of the day everyone was going to know. Ive since made no attempt to hide anything, I dress as myself now, androgynous or femme, whatever I feel like wearing.

And it feels so liberating not to have worry and guard yourself from certain people. I am comfortably she, simply me. As soon the name change is done I will go FT even at work. I worry about making the right decisions sometimes but the one thing that has never changed is I really cannot go back to the pain that life was. Hugs

Wendy

[Alexis R]

Hang tough, Wendy. It'll work out for you.

Blessings,
Angela

[sarahb]

Awesome, glad to hear it! I always love hearing good stories like this. Don't you love that moment where you just realize that nothing's actually in your way stopping you from being yourself...so you just take the plunge. Keep us updated on how it goes at work once you come out there. I'm sure it'll be no biggie seeing as how their initial reaction was very pleasant.

[Wendy C]

Thanks Angela, Sarah for your thoughts. I have already told my boss, the Service Chief and One coworker so far and everyone has said they are okay with it. The Last three days I have been wearing a ladies watch as the battery on the guy one died. I wear ladies turtlenecks and mock turtlenecks under my workshirt and Ive been letting the earings go from simple studs to dime and penny sized hoops and other little things I no longer try to hide.

I was told by the coworker that the scutllebut was that I was a transsexual but nobody is being blatant in asking. So its going to be okay I think. Oh OH,
OMG, I forgot about this gem. I talked to the DR in charge of the Veterans Affairs Women's Clinic when I was delivering a heater to her office and told her about me. She said as soon as I am ready, Im supposed to request to be assigned to her Clinic and she will personally ok it. And she said she has other Pts already that are T. Hugs

Wendy

[Alexis R]

Thanks Angela, Sarah for your thoughts. I have already told my boss, the Service Chief and One coworker so far and everyone has said they are okay with it. The Last three days I have been wearing a ladies watch as the battery on the guy one died. I wear ladies turtlenecks and mock turtlenecks under my workshirt and Ive been letting the earings go from simple studs to dime and penny sized hoops and other little things I no longer try to hide.

I was told by the coworker that the scutllebut was that I was a transsexual but nobody is being blatant in asking. So its going to be okay I think. Oh OH,
OMG, I forgot about this gem. I talked to the DR in charge of the Veterans Affairs Women's Clinic when I was delivering a heater to her office and told her about me. She said as soon as I am ready, Im supposed to request to be assigned to her Clinic and she will personally ok it. And she said she has other Pts already that are T. Hugs

Wendy

That's awesome, Wendy! I am heartened every time I hear of this kind of success story. You go girl!

Regards,
Angela

[Wendy C]

I just thought Id update this a little. I filed my petition with the Courts for a name change last Friday and if everything goes okay, on Feb 11, 2009 I will legally be Wendy Catherine. Hugs all.

Wendy

[Alexis R]

Yay! *Does the Happy Dance!!*

Angela

[Wendy C]

Thanks Angela I approached it with a lot of trepidation and took one of my daughters with me for support, lol, I was as nervous as a cat in a dog pound. It is such a huge step to take and the one that will allow me to  RLE in full, even at work. I work in a Hospital where I know virtually everyone so hiding the fact that I am TS is impossible. I am as ready for this as I will ever be so yeah, "Happy Dance"  Hugs

Wendy

[Ms Bev]

Being your true self, Wendy, is the most difficult AND most rewarding thing you will ever do.



Bev

[Janet_Girl]

Wendy,
It sounds like you are on, what I call a rocket sled on rails.  You will be going rapidly from here now out.  When I changed my name everything fell into place and I was Full Time.

Now according to most all of my paperwork, I am Female.  The dang SSN would change anything till SRS, but that is OK.  DL, Medical Card and work are all female now. 

A funny story.  When I was talking with my District HR, she told me that the day I start wearing anything feminine,  I was required, required mind you, to use the Ladies restroom.  The day I walked into work, I haven't seen the inside of any Men's room.

Janet

[Wendy C]

Thanks Bev for your support. Janet it does feel like a high speed run at the moment, things have speeded up again lol. Wed they published the first of three weekly Legal notices I had to post in a Newspaper for the Illinois requirements of name change. I got the bill today already with the Certificate of Publication I need for the Judge, so thats done. Now I wait until Feb 11 for my Court hearing on my petition.

I still need to talk with HR on several items including the restroom issue and am hoping they will accomadate me by letting me use the single use female restrooms. I work in a Hospital so they do have unisex restrooms but they are kind of far apart and few and usually busy. With the Spiro and frequent peeing, that will present a problem. They have said they will work with me to smooth the issues so I have hope. And I know what you mean, I abhor having to use the mens john's even now and thats only at work yet. Hugs

Wendy

[KarenLyn]

Congratulations Wendy. Sounds like life's in high gear. It get's back to normal after a while even though it might not seem like it. I work in a medical specialty center and was out when I started. I've been with them for nearly 9 years and there isn't anyone still there who remembers that I'm ts. Life is just normal now.

Karen

[Wendy C]

Thanks Karen   It just seems for the moment that things are wonderful, I am truly starting to find my peace within, something that had always elluded me. It makes one almost dread returning to the humdrum of normality, lol. Hugs Hon.

Wendy