wow today was a day for me to take another big step.  the web site for "its me" store in gresham said it was transgender friendly.  it took me a couple of hours before i made the call.  best move i could have made.  i was so relaxed that when susan  ive been running my mouth off here long en(the owner) left the room to help a customer who came into the store i was trying to nod off sitting in the chair.  she was my first contact face to face and me discussing my crossdressing and had me so comfortable talking to her it was an unbelivable but ecstatic experience.

she helped me with bra sizing and i found out the one i had on when i went to the store was the right size.  i showed her the wig i had bought and tried it on me and found it was just a little too small but usable. before we started she had me tell her about me and my crossdressing experiences.  she made it so easy that it was like talking to a long time friend.      she showed me a wig that she had in the store and i wore it until time to go home.  sitting talking to her i got to where i didn't even realize i was wearing a wig or breast forms.   she gave me a card for the northwest gender alliance and i am going to make the call.  she said i could go to the sept meeting as her guest on the 3rd tues if i want. i am 99% sure i will take her up on it.  its the same place melissa gave me there web site adress i already had down loaded the membership application.  i was so pleasantly surprised how easy she made the whole process.  next thing i need to do is getknowledgable about makeup. 
this whole process since joining  susans place has been exhilerating.  want to get where i can go out en femme and it looks like it might be sooner than i thought. i have been running my mouth off here long enough.

   thanks and hugs and  to all

Congratulations Amber.  I can definitely vouch for Susan as she was one of the first people I talked to when I began my transition and was still trying to figure myself out.  She was one of the nicest people I've met.  Anyway, you'll probably end up finding lots of warm hearted people along your way that will help you realize you are still perfectly normal.

Melissa

That is great Amber. It nice to find people who will accept you for who your are.
And not only that but want to help you too.
Susan's has been the only place where I have found that combination.

Jillieann

It's a different Susan Jillieann.  It's the person who runs the store that Amber referred to in her post.  I commented because being that we both live in the same area, I happened to meet this susan on several occasions.  It's where I bought my wig and breastforms when first starting out.  Now I don't need either and that feels great.

Melissa

NWGA, eh.  So you are in the Portland area. 

Be sure to ask them about the Esprit Conference in Port Ageles, WA each May.  NWGA is one of the 3 support groups that run Esprit.  You can check it out at <www.espritconf.com>.  (I'll add that link to our links site.)

Having been an Esprit Committee Task Coordinator for several years, I can vouch for it for CDs, TS, and SOs. 

I hope we can make it to Esprit 2007.  I've missed the past 3 years due to work commitments.  Another plus - if we get there - is that my husband tries to dance with all the ladies. 

Robyn