I was out shopping today in drag. As I walked into a store to get a piece of pizza, some jerks standing in front of the place started heckling me and continued doing so even after I walked in. The clerk was nice and respectful and asked how my day was. He seemed sincere but I just smiled and said it was okay. That's how it is when you are raised male; act like you are too tough to feel hurt, otherwise everyone considers you pathetic. Looking back, I wish I could have honestly told him "my day is good except for the jerks making fun of me in front of your store". There is no reason to feel pathetic. I didn't ask to be born a boy. After 30 years of holding in my emotions, it is hard for me to undo the damage of holding them in, hard to cry even though I always want to.