I have started this introduction several times over the past few weeks, only to abandon it each time. It is not always easy to answer the question, "Who am I?", when the answers are not readily apparent.
I am a unique individual who disdains classification. I have been that way all my life.
When I was very young, about six years old, I suffered a complication from a common childhood disease that almost killed me. As it was, I was left with damaged motor function, so much so, that I had to learn to crawl, walk, and run all over again. While I was home from school, my Mom, a teacher by training, bought for me the Life Nature Series. I ate them up. Then the Life Science series; then the World Book Encyclopedia. Before I got back to regular school, I was reading, and understanding college text books. I took college courses during the summer beginning with 7th grade. I am still a voracious reader today.
Although I had some slight impairment, I enjoyed playing sports as a kid. As a young teenager, I developed a mild case of gynecomastia. One doctor said I would grow out of it. Another said I had too much testosterone. As an older teen, a third said I was smoking too much dope - which, although true, lacks a good scientific correlation. At one point, I even lactated, which came as a surprise. Anyway, I have had some pert A-cups ever since, and I embraced them!
I became sexually active at 15. My first experience was with a similarly-aged girl and a gay guy. I had Playboy centerfolds on my bedroom wall, and a poster of Lief Garrett under my mattress. Even then, I recognized that I was both bisexual and bigendered, as I could fill the roles of male or female as required. Clearly, i was of two spiritis. I had bisexual flings in college until I met a young lady who captured my heart.
I married her and have remained married for nearly 30 years in a monogamous relationship, and have raised four kids. I suppressed, but always knew, that my "girl inside" was still there, waiting to blossom.
Because of some health issues that popped up in my late 40s, and some of the medications I was prescribed (Aldactone as a diuretic, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors), my gynecomastia has increased. I felt now was a good time to reassess my gender(s) and explore my feminine side. So last year I began talking with a therapist and during the summer started a course of low-dose hrt (17b estradiol patch and AA - not Aldactone anymore).
I have already interacted here with several fine people in the community, and I hope to meet many more and learn from their experiences. Thanks for putting up with me.
