I know I've been here a while, but I wanted to wait till I made my 15 posts so that my avatar picture could be included for you all to see me when I make my introduction.
My name (very soon to be legal...judge signed the order and just waiting for my lawyer to process the few remaining steps to get it finalized) is Edina Rene and I'm a NYC girl. As of this point I am about 3 1/2 months on hormones, and I'm happy to report that on my last visit a couple of days ago my endo has increased my dosages and my physical and mental changes should ramp up nicely.
I have been living female full-time since November 2012 after years of pushing the gender non-conforming style for many years. It was just that I finally made the decision to move to actually transition and present completely female when the federal work program I was in came to the last few months of my term and I felt that it was too late for them to do anything if they didn't like it and that once I did leave and I had to go back to public assistance I would to it as Edina. Now all of my dreams are coming true (there have been and continue to be a few bumps in the road which I will not allow to deter me from, to paraphrase Joseph Campbell, "follow my bliss").
I have been making friends in the NYC trans community, and the only family member I have who is still with me is my sister who is very supportive. I feel that there are genetic aspects to my gender issues which she can relate to since she never grew out of the tomboy stage and still exhibits many typically male traits though she's happy with her gender. I have cultivated a core group of supportive people around me and I am glad to have them as friends who I can turn to when I start to feel down and can also celebrate with me when I am happy.
My name Edina came to me from a character in the BBC Brit-com "Absolutely Fabulous" which I watched many years ago and decided then that if I were ever to change my name that would be it. Rene came to me recently as a middle name when I was thinking of what it would be. There are a few reasons why: it would retain my birth middle initial, rhyme with the last name to hopefully clue people in to how to pronounce the last name, and its meaning comes from the French for "being reborn".
I began this journey late in life (I'll be 60 before the year is up) and my life as male has been very creative and productive. I have been a Picture Framer, Comics/Graphics Artist, Web Designer, IT Consultant, Radio DJ/Talk Show Host/Engineer/Producer and Rock n Roll Drummer. I am hoping that the remainder of my life's journey can be just as productive and interesting while doing so as a woman.
Hi, my name is Edina Rene and I am NOT running for president! (and, by the way, I endorse this message)
