I wrote the following haiku when Laurie completed her 8,200 mile (13,000 km) drive.
Journal of her road trip is at https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,224341.0.html


as the road went by
beautiful destination
began to appear

gender backup clothes
Burlington Colorado
locked in truck with keys

OMG what now
Laurie's lorry knows answer
time to be true self

much like taking swim
do not over analyze
just jump in and be

feels good doesn't it
the earth did not stop turning
in fact better place

use carpool lane now
one person with two people
one stronger one fades

Laurie shows us all
Yes as a matter of fact
I do own this road

Quote from: Laurie on August 06, 2017, 11:48:59 PM
Hi DM,

  Okay okay this one begs my story. I'll try to keep it short.
  Past history-  approximately 64 years of crossdressing including in car escapades with many miles passing beneath my heels but with virtually no interaction with people.
  Last Nov I realize I am actually transgender. With the urging of friends here on Susan"s I begin making forays dressed in public. my second time challenge was to enter a store, shop for some female item and check out with a live cashier. It took me 15 minutes to get out on my truck and go inside but I did it.
  From then to June I make  2 - 3 more short forays , usually  by taking a walk, into the public arena still very unsure of my self, afraid, and nervous.
  Enter the middle of June I have planned a road trip and it includes meeting many of the ladies from this site along the way to Maine and back to Oregon. I left a nervous unsure  probably more crossdresser than a woman. I had decided to try to goes as far as the first two in Colorado en femme. I did it. First stop in Denver to meet Jane for lunch in a restaurant. Having her with me as a security blanket I had my first en femme experience in a restaurant. Next I met Randy and Jacqui and enjoyed their hospitality for the afternoon and night. Another day spent en femme. From their place I decided to continue as a woman and survives and embarrassing incident at a bust truck stop/ gas station when I locked myself out of my truck. To shorten this long story I just go on to say I made it to Maine and back and only changed into male clothes twice. I was gone just over a month and met 9 ladies from here and did it all as a woman. After I made it home I soon made another mini road trip to meet yet another wonderful lady in Kirkland, the lady is Kendra and she is every bit a part of my road trip as any of the others. Every woman I met helped me with my insecurities and my fears. Each and every one help me become more confident in who I am. I owe them all a lot for helping me begin to understand who and what I am. I returned home a much different person from who I was when I left. I'm now living full time and counting from the last time I wore male clothing  when I took my niece to dinner in Pennsylvania on my way out to Maine. I am still working on accepting myself for who I am.

   I am a woman, a transgender woman.

  You my friend, are doing just what you should by venturing out in the world to discover who you are. What you did isn't easy at all and does take a lot of courage. Confidence will come with time and exposure. It isn't a race but a wonderful journey. Hold your head high and never be ashamed of who you are. Never let anyone tell you different.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Thank you so much :-)

Quote from: Raelynn on August 06, 2017, 11:58:48 PM
Proud of you girl!!! As the others have already said, BIG MOVE to be so young and going out! I was out of high school before I did and it was just a SUPER fast trip out and back. I was scared to death and I totally get the feeling better getting back into the car!

Peace in your Journey!
Luv
Raelynn

It was horrifying  and thanks for responding

Quote from: Kendra on August 07, 2017, 12:00:16 PM
I wrote the following haiku when Laurie completed her 8,200 mile (13,000 km) drive.
Journal of her road trip is at https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,224341.0.html


as the road went by
beautiful destination
began to appear

gender backup clothes
Burlington Colorado
locked in truck with keys

OMG what now
Laurie's lorry knows answer
time to be true self

much like taking swim
do not over analyze
just jump in and be

feels good doesn't it
the earth did not stop turning
in fact better place

use carpool lane now
one person with two people
one stronger one fades

Laurie shows us all
Yes as a matter of fact
I do own this road

Her story is truly amazing, and the haiku is excellent

Quote from: Ejo on August 07, 2017, 02:01:02 AM
The more you go out the more you realize that most people don't notice and that the ones that do could care less. Every now and then you might get that one individual that stares, in which case I'd say hi or just stare back and watch them quickly turn away. You have to put a little comedy into it and you'll find it'll go a long ways toward feeling comfortable. People have their own issues to deal with, just as we do. They're not concerned with you nearly as much as you think.

The main thing that helped me during my early days of transitioning was realizing the fact that those people that you're afraid of don't give a damn about you, so why should you give a damn about them? Back then I asked my therapist what I could do to feel more comfortable in public and he told me "JUST F**K THEM"! It works till' this day, although I now pass.

Keep being yourself and things will move on right along!

Thats the same thing my friend said Thank you