Today went to see my gender therapist for the last time before my move to Florida. Naturally, this time I went as Melody. In the parking garage of the therapists office, a lady stopped me and asked me for directions into the building. Once I got over the mild shock of someone speaking to me, I gave her the directions, she thanked me without a second glance or look of surprise and my first face-to-face contact with a member of the unassuming general public was over. I don't think she could have realized how happy her simple question and non-reaction made me!
I then drove over to a pharmacy in an office building in the medical center. I remember the first time I went out dressed, the idea of other drivers looking at me made me nervous. I felt much more comfortable this time and noted that nobody stared at me, construction workers stopping traffic in front of me didn't take a second glance. Everything was just, well, normal. When I got to the pharmacy, had to pass a bunch of people in the parking garage and no looks. Full elevator down to the first floor, no glances at me. Spoke to the cashier at the counter for my prescription and no unusual reaction from her even though my prescription was in my male name (which is in spanish and some people probably couldn't gender readily anyway). She broke the bad news that the pharmacy couldn't fulfill my full order, so would I mind coming back tomorrow. Ok, I said and the cashier then told the pharmacist "she will pick it up tomorrow" which led me to think "who is this she? oh, it's me!" LOL!
Turned to walk out and noticed the pharmacy had gotten a lot more full since I walked in. I noticed a teenage boy at the entrance and was ready to see a reaction like a smirk or something from him as I walked by on the way out. Got nothing. Same from the lady at the elevator and the parking lot attendant who I gave my parking ticket to at the exit. I can't believe that I think I passed visually to all those people and my voice (which is naturally higher pitched, but I tweaked a bit to sound more female) seemed to be passable as well.
The other day I went to my trans meeting dressed and then a restaurant in Houston's gayborhood, so it encouraged me, but today was a much more stringent test in my ability to pass. All I could think as everybody seemed to pay me no mind was "I can't believe this is happening!" I was struck by how normal everything felt. I also got a glimpse how my struggles with my trans nature are difficult, but one day will not be the most important thing in my life anymore. At the end of this day, I had to deal with the nuisance of coming back for a prescription and that struck me as incredibly mundane, but part of the every day nature of life that will be much more routine and without the stress of passing once I transition.
Bummer is tomorrow, since I will be getting my last laser treatment, I have to get my prescription without makeup. Might get interesting if I get the same cashier as today.
One last little gratifying incident today. I brought lunch for my son at school today. You have to check in at the front desk and they issue you a sticker pass with your name and picture on it. I gave the lady my last name and she looked at my picture. "You aren't (male name) are you?" I said yes. She said, "but you don't look anything like this picture" I laughed and explained that I had lost some weight. That seemed to satisfy her somewhat, but I could tell that she couldn't get over the difference. The whole thing made me chuckle.
