On to Thursday. I decided that instead of driving the hour back to Leesburg to that social security office, I'd go to one closer in Dade City. It was a little worrisome, considering that while Leesburg is a long way from being cosmopolitan, it's a lot more metro than podunk little Dade City. But I needed to go to Lakeland to fix a problem on the plane that I'd built, and Dade City was about a third of the way there in the correct direction. So once again I got myself fixed up and built up my nerves, and skittered to the office in the go-cart.
As you walk in there's a big sign: No electronics of any kind, turn them off. Leave them in the car. Huh? Which is it? Well, being a law-abiding person, I went back out to the car and stashed my phone and watch in the glove box. Went back in and got my ticket, number A69. Currently serving A54. Not too bad.
I had hoped to get caught up here while I waited, but with no phone, all I could do was stare at the stupid idiot box on the wall - while everyone else in the room played on their phones. Eye roll. At least I wasn't getting any second glances. A lady even smiled and asked whether the seat next to me was taken, and sat there with no weirdness.
About an hour later, "A69, window 4."
"Yes ma'am, how can I help you today?" <frisson>
Big smile: "Name and gender change. Here are all the forms."
"Yes, that's all we need. I'm going to send you down to window 2, though, since he has more experience with this."
Off to window 2, and a nice 20-something young man who could be a basketball player. He ran through all the paperwork with no drama, then asked to see my drivers license, which was... whoops, in the pocket on the back of my phone, out in the car. Be right back...
Finished filling out the forms, double checked with me that everything was accurate, printed out the receipt, gave me back all my paperwork, and said we were all set. As I got up to go:
"Congratulations, Stephanie. Enjoy your new life."
I thought my face was going to split. I couldn't stop grinning like a fool. Did a happy dance in front of my car. And had what Cassie calls a "Lady Minute" in the car.
This is all really really happening. Oop. Getting all verklempt again...
Epilog: I drove down to where the plane I'd built is being kept. The owner and his wife are incredibly supportive of my transition, and she made me lunch while we talked about how things were going for me. Afterwards she gave me some makeup tips and even gave me some lip gloss. I changed into my new women's working clothes, went to the hangar, and found and fixed the problem with the plane. I consider that my first technical victory as my new self, and I looked fabulous doing it, despite dripping fuel down my arm.
And one final thing: Eight minutes from home I got a text from Sue. One of the snowbirds who hang out and help me in the shop during the winter was waiting at home to take us out to dinner for a favor I'd done for him. I asked Sue if he realized who he was going to take to dinner, and she said Oh yeah. Okey dokey...
I'd already told him earlier what I was doing, and he was fine with it. He's always in good humor and took it all in stride. We joke around a lot, so I didn't hesitate to correct him any time he deadnamed or misgendered me, and he never took offense and kept trying to get better. At the restaurant the waitress was awesome, joking with us ladies and that guy on the other side of the booth. I even joked with the manager that I was upset because my pina colada didn't have an umbrella in it. She knows my previous persona, since as president of our flying club I've been arranging to use their meeting room for years. I don't know if she recognized me or not. She didn't show any surprise, so I'm guessing that she didn't know who she was talking with. Anyway, by the end of dinner my friend was starting to get it, though I'm sure it'll take more gentle persuasion before he doesn't forget.
In any case, I'd rate this as an immensely successful day...
Stephanie Rhapsody Bensinger - Now known to the federal government as same. It's now a federal offense to misgender me...