Emma1017 ... Which hurts less - Volume Two

[Pema]

Emma, you're beautiful, and sharing your photos inspires others. Thank you.

[Emma1017]

Thank you, Lori and Pema.  I'm glad you're ok if I post the photos.  I don't want to come across as narcissistic here, where opinions matter to me.

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

@Emma1017

Dear Emma:
Over the years that I have been active on the Forum, I always like to see a picture
to go with a member's name.
        HOWEVER
I do fully understand, for the very good reasons of personal privacy and other circumstances,
that there are members here that wish to be very careful regarding sharing private information.

Regarding your posted photo, other photos, and your postings that you have shared since you
had registered as a member in March of 2018, I have enjoyed watching and reading about your
journey and your wonderful progress.
          ******It is definitely and absolutely OK for you to post and share
                  your photos on the Susan's Place Forum..

Thank you for your frequent postings, and along with your other avid followers and readers,
I always eagerly look for you next submitted posting.

Please keep your updates coming,
                ❤️
HUGS, and more HUGS,
Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

[Emma1017]

Thank you so much, Danielle.  I am my own worst critic, so I am always second-guessing everything I do.

We started the annual yard raking.  We had rain and windstorms this week, so there are plenty of leaves, and I think my neighbors' leaves migrated to our yard.   There is still plenty more left on the trees.   Who needs to join a gym? 

[Lori Dee ✅]

We started the annual yard raking shoveling. 

I fixed it for you.
😆

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

I fixed it for you.
😆

  @Lori Dee  cc: @Emma1017
Lori:  
I have already been 'shoveling' {snow} in my yard in this early Autumn season.

Danielle

[Lori Dee ✅]

  @Lori Dee  cc: @Emma1017
Lori:  
I have already been 'shoveling' {snow} in my yard in this early Autumn season.

Danielle

Yes, but your "yard" is what we Southerners call the Arctic Circle.  😆

[Sephirah]

Thank you Lori and Chrissy for your compliments.

I wanted to explain why I post photos of me here. I don't want anyone thinking I'm a narcissist. 

I post them because I can only be me part time. Unlike many of you who have transitioned, I don't see me in the mirror every morning.

I get to be me on rare occasions.  Totally my choice to stay with my cisgender wife who is the love of my life but it doesn't mean that the "male" times are easy.  The love of our relationship are worth it.

I share the photos here because I know that you all understand how important it is when you are seen, truly seen, as you. 

So, thank you for allowing to share those moments of joy with people who understand. ❤️

 

Emma you do not need to explain. Every time I see a picture of you here... girl, your smile is magnificent. It's like you have a glow about you that radiates out from inside you.

I have said, and stand by the fact that everyone needs to be selfish and narcissistic at times. It isn't always a bad thing. Even Buddha said the same thing, just look at my signature! If you can't take time to be yourself, how do you ever expect to understand anyone else?

You need to feel grounded in you, Emma. This is the place to do to it. That's literally what this place is for. You know I know how hard it is when you can't just throw three sheets to the wind and go transition. You need to take the moments when you can. You need anchors in a sea of chaos... to remind you of yourself.

It is not a bad thing to love yourself, honey, in those times where you are able. It is a very good thing. Your smile always shows just how good it is. You need outlets to let off the pressure of a life where you're having to spin 30 plates at once.

Post as many pictures as you want because, honestly, I never get tired of seeing that gorgeous, captivating smile when you get to be free. A picture speaks a thousand words.

That's why I'm very quiet, lol.

If a person's heart could be in their smile... girl, you'd have the biggest heart in the world.

[Sephirah]

  @Lori Dee  cc: @Emma1017
Lori:  
I have already been 'shoveling' {snow} in my yard in this early Autumn season.

Danielle

Envy levels approaching 9000...

We haven't seen snow in the UK in like 10 years. It's unfair considering how far north we are.

Yes, but your "yard" is what we Southerners call the Arctic Circle.  😆

Tied for the most beautiful place on Earth, with the Antarctic Circle. Danielle has more actual land in Alaska, though. Most of the Arctic Circle is just ice over water.

[Emma1017]

Thank you, Lauren, yet again, for protecting me from me.

With a very warm hug,

Emma

[Emma1017]

I am so glad they we came together and supported our home.

Thank you, Susan!

[Emma1017]

I taught for two days this week. For the first, I was a gym teacher, and for the second, an English teacher.  Gym was easy, it was a series of study periods. In English, I had to give tests all day long.  I wasn't the most popular teacher that day!

[Sephirah]

Yikes, talk about a contrast, lol.

I used to hate my PE teacher in school (what we call gym class in Britain. Stands for Physical Education). Mostly because I was very overweight and out of shape as a kid because I literally didn't care. I made every excuse to get out of it. He would always make everyone play Rugby. I think he was a bit of a sadist. He married my Geography teacher, who I kind of had a bit of a crush on. But that's too much information.

Anyway. I always loved English, and English Literature. For probably obvious reasons. With internet lingo these days, I would imagine English tests would be the bane of many students' lives, lol.

[Emma1017]

Lauren, that's what I love about this.  I don't know which subjects I need to cover until I show up.  Fortunately for the students, the teachers leave me a lesson plan, like the fashion sewing class.  Thank God, I only know how to stab myself with a needle!

One side benefit of the school is its location. 

St. Marks Place in Manhattan is surrounded by NYU.  That means that there are a lot of great stores in the area.  I love the numerous fashion exchanges where you can sell old stuff and get a credit.  The stores carry used and new clothes.  It allows me to try out different styles without pillaging my retirement account!

My mom's family is also from the neighborhood.  My parents got married three blocks away, my mom went to college one block over, and I went to high school five blocks south of this high school.  It always feels like going back home.

The kids I "teach" are great.  Sure, there are some that just put their heads down on the desk and refuse to participate.  The principal instructed me to ignore them.  They have emotional issues that the school is working with, so I just work around them.  The other students just let them be.  Given that this is an LGBTQ school, there is no bullying, and the kids are very supportive of each other.  They make me want to come back every time.

[Sephirah]

If you ever have to cover home economics... don't make the students bake a cake! That's all I'm saying. Teach them how to prepare a nice salad with plenty of protein.

[Lori Dee ✅]

If you ever have to cover home economics... don't make the students bake a cake! That's all I'm saying. Teach them how to prepare a nice salad with plenty of protein.

BACON is always the answer.

Or explain what a checkbook is and how to use a register. Kids nowadays rely on calculators so much that they can't figure out how to make change.

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

BACON is always the answer.

Or explain what a checkbook is and how to use a register. Kids nowadays rely on calculators so much that they can't figure out how to make change.

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
In some stores, the cash register checker just throws the change in my hand with
some paper money on top... 
....when that happens I always count it back in front of them like I would if I were
a checker....  with the hope that they learn something.
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

[Lori Dee ✅]

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
In some stores, the cash register checker just throws the change in my hand with
some paper money on top... 
....when that happens I always count it back in front of them like I would if I were
a checker....  with the hope that they learn something.
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

See? BACON is easier!

😆