Heading out for chest surgery, back in 10 days or so. Wish me well!

Dennis

Good Luck!  I hope your surgery and recovery go well!

Jessica

Probably already gone, See ya Saturday Fella.  I just hope that Plaid don't cross my eyes and the button down scare me to death, tell yer frieind to slap me upside the head if I go into a comma.

Anyway that coffee better be hot, drive into the City to visit a Guy indeed, but at least you'll be basically helpless ..... but regardless, you promised your a Gentleman.  What would my mother think?

Terri

Hello Dennis,

I hope that everything turns out as you expect and I wish you a speedy recovery, and a safe return,  I know you will be in our thoughts and dreams.

Take care

Steph

Hey All, Just got off the phone with Dennis in his room in San Francisco.  He had his breast removal earlier today and says he feels fine and is getting up and around very well thank you.

He sounds in good spirits and happy, not at all stressed out or sounding fatiqued from the surgery, though I would guess he probably is.  Dennis says he feels far better and is much more mobile then lead to believe, but like I advised him, wait until morning for things to settle in.  He says some movements, especially with the arms are a little tricky right now, but he has an old friend (lesbian) with him to do what he can't.  By the way, I like Dennis's voice, he should have no problems with it in short order.  Not to deep at present, but "there".  Does sound a little like the little "nurdy" fella he accuses himself of though, but perfectly fine for a lawyer.

Been trying to think of an appropriate gift to take him when I see him on Saturday, I don't think a set of Roses would cut it.  Anyone got any idea what to take an emerging man to acknowledge hisr accomplishment?  Northing to personal, expensive or beyond the bounderies of simple friendship between two trans people at opposite ends of the pole.

I guess it's just this how to treat a man thing confusing me ....  Believe it or not, it's hard to keep perspective here.

Terri

Shake his hand and wish him well for me please Terri.

As for gifts, perhaps a tie or a razor? A nice tie is probably the most symbolic, and perhaps even useful now

I thought of a good electric razor, but a little cash poor for that right now.  Tie is a good idea, I remember he said something about Ties a bit back.  Perhaps a hand painted one with Hula girls or something else in excellent taste for a man huh?

Terri

QuoteShake his hand and wish him well for me please Terri.

How about I close my eyes, pretend I'm not doing this and carefully of course, give him a big hug from the women of Susans?


If he pats me on the butt though, all bets are off ....

Terri

That works too, but he might find a hug uncomfortable currently at a guess. ... be careful

Thank you Terri

That is such good news for Dennis, thanks for the update Terri, you are a true, caring,  friend.  I'm so glad that everything well, but as it has been mentioned he will probably be a little sorer now.  I hope that it's not too bad.  Please give him a hug from me as well Terri.

As far as a gift goes, I've never known any man to turn down a case of beer  , especially a lawyer, but a nice tie with a tie clip is a great idea.  Be sure to tell him that we are all thinking about him.

Steph

I've noticed that tastes in Beer can be highly personal, what one will swear by, another will pour on the ground rather then drink.  I really do not like the idea of giving things that are dependant on taste value without a good prior knowledge of a persons persuasions in the matter.

It is much the same with articles of clothing such as Ties, but as he will be building a new wardrobe for work, I suppose one in good conservative taste and material in work appropriate color and design can be accommodated into the new wardrobe. Clips can be somewhat simpler even, and I do believe that such a gift would have significant emotional meaning, though to myself such things were always more a symbol of conformity and were simply a pain around the neck.

And yes, we can only immagine he will be sore for a while until the skin heals and the constant streatching and irritation of skin and underlying tissue ceases to be a wake-up call, but I will definately, with gentle care and minimal body contact (to be expected anyway) give as warm and meaningful hug possible under the circumstances from all the Women of Susans who share his joy of accomplishment as I do. For those who have no feelings one way or another about it, or do not identify with the feelings of a Man in regard to a victory in self identity and self esteem, fair enough, consider yourselves left out. I will of course mention specific individuals who have extended personal congrats.

Part of my going however is personal, I am after all, going to see him as much to experience a lesson and fullfilment in commitment as to acknowledge his accomplishment, (to an Ftm, this can be as meaningful as SRS to an MtF for various reasons, as it perminatly severs a significant Female bond in the same manner of a Male giving up his penis)   as we do not have any prior personal relationship.  He was good enough to invite me to collect on a cup of coffe mentioned in the forums since I live so close to where he will be, it is a simple two hour drive from my home, a couple of CD's worth of my own burning. 

I feel Dennis is one I could learn much from though we come from different perspectives. I am anxious to explore with him the significant issues of the differences of MtF and FtM needs and issues in surgical modifications and psycological/emotional effects from his new perspective and experience.

That, and I just Like the little Nurd, and male or female don't even enter into it.

Terri

Heh, sneaked in - at an internet cafe and thought I'd pop in to say hi.

I feel great today, even better than yesterday. The nurses said my recovery was one of the fastest they'd seen. Within 1/2 an hour of waking up from the anaesthetic I was eating and sneaking out for a cigarette (no lectures please, I know. The only way I was able to quit before surgery was to promise myself that I could have one afterwards). No hugs or handshakes please though! Owww

I don't get my drains out till Monday, so I look a bit lumpy under my shirt, but it beats the hell out of having a set of boobs in there.

/hugs to you all! Thanks for the support. Looking forward to seeing you Terri, it was great talking on the phone. I'm trying to figure out which is my nerdiest button down plaid shirt so I don't disappoint

Dennis

Dennis,

Congratulations on a successful surgery and speedy recovery. Hope your return trip is safe and uneventful. Or if eventful, pleasantly so.

Teri,

Handkerchiefs are a good gift every gentleman needs them so they can offer them to a lady in need. 


Cassie

Hey there Dennis my man.

It's so great that you are up and about, you seem to have come through with flying colours.  Terri has been keeping us posted on how you are doing, and I know that we are all thankful for her doing that.

Take it easy, don't be chasing any nurses yet 

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery, and a safe trip home.

Take care.

Steph

Hey Dennis, get as nurdy as you can. the plaid don't bother me at all, I'm prone to such myself at times, it's the button down that I'm not to crazy about.  Ok, No hugs, at least not from the front, but don't be surprised if I sneak up behind you, just don't black my eye out of surprise, ok? Please?  I can be extreamly quick and totally silent and unexpected, expect surprises.

Anyway, just hope your in a talkitive, communicative mood, I'll only have a short while and I'm as child like curious as people in such situations allow me to be.  It may be I'll never see you again in person and I wish to get to know you and understand you and your feelings, and you mine, as well as possible for me to do in the time available, and what you are comfortable sharing,  learn all I can that can be applied to myself or remembered for its spiritual beauty, and hold forever in my heart.  It's a rare opportunity, and I deeply appreciate your willingness to share such an important experience, and point in time, with me and intermingling thoughts is a trait of mine that sometimes I get lost in, you'll get it quickly enough I assume, most do in a person to person sitting, just keep it in perspective ...

Doctors orders again, I got to go worship the porcelin thrown for a bit at the mention of cigarettes. The reasononing of Men, go figure ...

Sleep well Dennis, heal up that beautiful flat chest, and may your profile give you the deepest pleasure and contentment.

Terri

Just got back from San Francisco about 6pm.  Traffic, yuk....

I crossed the bay bridge at about 11:45 am this morning and with directions in hand, got crowded into a must turn lane almost immediately and was forced to turn off on a street I didn't want and between dodging one way streets, trollies and traffic that wouldn't let me over, promply got lost, so being in a good frame of mind I found a day parking lot, left my car there and took a cab to the cafe we had arranged to meet at.  I finally walked in and spotted Dennis from his description, and He spotted me from my pic at about the same time.  He bought me a delicious cup of coffee, we talked a bit, then took a walk to the docks at fishermans warf and then back to his motel and the excercise was beginning to take it's toll on him and I caught a cab from there back to my car and found my way back to the bay bridge and came home.

We had a good chat and I was very impressed with Dennis, we spent a couple of hours talking and walking, and I never had any sense of him being anything other then a man.  and a gentleman at that.  I had hoped to talk more in depth, after we got aquainted, but the walk to the docks over did it a bit and he was obviously in pain by the time we got back to his motel and he needed a rest.  He has been pushing it, just like a man.

I took some digital shots of him, but as my camera is a cheapee which doesn't have a viewer screen and pics can only be seen after download, the only one that came out was one in the coffee shop.  On one outside, I managed to cut his head off, etc, etc... also, had the sun angle wrong out side, he took one of me on a street corner, the same one I cut his head off in, and it was somewhat washed out with the sun.  one of these days I got to get a decent camera with a viewer screen to check the pics, but the one I got was free, so it's what I got.

Anyway, I enjoyed meeting you Dennis, and thank you for sharing some time with me.  It improved the lousy attitude I been couped up with lately.

Terri

Dennis did accept that hug while waiting for my cab though, I just hope I didn't lean in to much for him, I tried to only make contact at the shoulders, but I don't know.  I do think It may have caused him some pain, if I did, I am very, very sorry.  I was getting so used to accepting him as a man, I almost forgot about the surgery.

I just wish I were as close as he is in my overall (appearance, voice, attitude) presentation as he is.  Realistically, if I hadn't known who he was, I never would have gathered he had been born a woman.  And he is not so nerdy after all, was just a rumor he was spreading ....

Congratulations Dennis:
I know it's been a while since you posted this topic, but I thought the name you chose for it was hilarious.
I also plan to leave my....well...you know what...in Scottsdale next year.


tinkerbell