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It was on this date in 1986 that I went to work as me for the first time, goodness it was nerve-racking and looking back on it, it only seems a short while ago, but with a stroke and ageing plus diabetes, I have slowed up considerably, but I am still going and hope to be for a few more years yet.
I can't wear heels anymore my balance doesn't allow it (thank you stroke) and I tire easily, blepharitis means I can't wear eye makeup and I can't decide whether or not to cut my hair or keep growing it. It's baby fine and blows all over the place and longer than it's ever been, below shoulders at present, so it means usually in a ponytail.
Surgery was also a long time ago and I'd been neglecting my dilation for about a year or more, more I think, but I have managed to get that going again and produced a reasonable depth but it was hard work and hurt a bit, still, who knows what is possible if you persevere.
To those much newer to the journey, think very carefully before committing yourself to changes you cannot reverse, I have no regrets but I have been very fortunate and mainly had lots of support. So do be careful and use your head as well as your heart.
Comments
Made it this far
And not all do, look back on the memories then (slow breath) look up to the horizon. Happy "anniversary" X.
"Reach for the sun."
Good Advice
Ang, you are an inspiration to us all here. Your advice is very sound, and, indeed I echoed exactly that whilst talking to two younger friends in our position.
Having said that, I have never regretted a second of being me as I now am.
"With all its sham and drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world" as it says in Desiderata.
Happy Anniversary. Lucy xx
"Lately it occurs to me..
what a long strange trip its been."
Thank you, Angharad.
Thank you for sharing the wisdom of your lived experience. “Use your head as well as your heart” ought to be tattooed on the forearm of every ten-year-old, so it’s right there to remind them for the rest of their lives!
Age takes the ephemera— like the heels, the eye-shadow, the full and glorious hair — but if we’re lucky, it spares the essence. Every day that you can simply be you, in your heart and in your mind, is a victory worth celebrating. Thanks for celebrating with all of us here!
Warmest wishes,
Emma
Neither Grimm nor Grim
So many stories on BC should end with "And she lived happily ever after."
Thank you for reminding us that life is filled with challenges. Solving a portion of one challenge is not a panacea. Plus, as you point out, things change creating new hurdles.
Part of the attraction of Bike is that you sprinkle it with reality rather than fairy dust. Life is random enough without a Deus Ex Machina around every corner.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
True to Yourself
Angharad my heartfelt thanks for sharing your life. Pathfinders such as yourself show those who follow there is hope and a way for them if they wish and desire it strong enough. There are so many whom I read about, researched, and emailed or wrote letters to. April Ashley, Caroline Cossey, Lynn Conway, and so many others led the way. They created their own path to become the woman they knew they were born as.
Not everyone is driven to change their gender from M t F as there are degrees of transgender. It isn't a M or F with no divide in between as most of the politicians, red necks, and bigots claim. For all those who survive without the need to become a F when their birth certificate has M stamped on it. I love you just as much.
Hugs Angharad thank you
Barb
Life is a gift to be lived, not worn until it's worn out.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Thank you all
for the very touching comments, I hope to get to the fortieth anniversary of my transition and I feel well enough in myself and hopefully, I'll still be chasing dormice and wading in streams and rivers after aquatic macroinvertebrates, if I can get my lab sorted I might even be trying to identify microinvertebrates, this house is too small or I have too much clutter - nah, the house is too small.
Angharad
Just take care of yourself!
A stroke is in a sense a warning that one has to be even more careful with ones' health. My mother died of a severe one but that was due to her not taking care of her diabetes and extremely high blood pressure. She was sedentary etc.
I remember in my teens and Mom was in her fifties and she had me do all of the shopping for her.
Since we did not have a car, she had me do the shopping for her and that set the pattern where she stayed at home and did very little physical activity.
Anyway, that is never a good thing.
You sound like you are at least have physical activity so please(!) take care of your diet better if you are not already doing so.
The death of so many of my loved ones: my mother, father and now partner has really shown for me how important taking care of the fundamentals is to keeping one alive and around for those who care for you.
Well, counting is good.
It was a pleasure to meet you in real life in- what? 2014 or so. I know I'd just built myself a new bike (one I can't even get on now. Old age isn't for the faint-hearted :) ) Your contribution here has been outstanding and you've given a lot of pleasure to many - you can be justifiably proud.
I hope you are able to keep counting for many years to come.
R