I reached a very important moment in my transition on Wednesday, when I had my first electroysis appointment. My electrologist was someone I already sort of knew, so she was quite surprised I was transitioning, but she is very supportive and friendly. The session was only an hour, but the process still felt a little medieval, but is still nice to begin getting rid of "Mr. Cactus" (yes, my facial hair is that bad). she used the blend method and had to use a somewhat large needle and painfully high setting, but used numbing cream. This also my second time going out in public in gender appropriate clothing, pictures here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/128756262@N04/16443326927/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/128756262@N04/16443326927/). I stood out with the scarf, but it was pretty and hid some the areas she didn't get too. After the appointment I went to the library on campus to drop off a book. I then went to a drug store to purchase some products to help after electro treatment. I then went to the grocery, where i ended up having to use the restroom (drinking lots of water before electro, yay!) which felt a little awkward because there no gender neutral restrooms, but they were single toilet and lockable, but the employee was kind enough and smart enough to know that I don't belong in a men's bathroom. I also purchased some groceries and a bottle of wine. I was misgendered by one employee and I "politely" asked her if she had seen a transsexual woman before and smiled at her. Although I had plenty of reasons to be nervous, I felt more at peace with myself than nervous. i got both smiles and stares, but I kept doing my thing.I finally feel I coming out of my cocoon (quite painfully though, and with plenty of stares and awkward moments). On the other hand, I'm not sure if I am crazy or just have plenty of chutzpah to run errands in girl mode while not passing. I know it could have turned into a bad situation, but I am so sick of having to hide who I really am because others do not approve.
Rachel good for you!! It sounds like you conquered some fears!Somedays i feel i don't want to hide either but i know that I'm not passable right now, and i don't have the confidence to go out with beard shadow and my still very much boyish haircut, etc.
I think because you are doing things early you will be that much further ahead of the game as you develop more and more!!