Friday, January 25, 2013

Wednesday Woman Continues

IMG_3737_cropped_web (Continued from yesterday's post.)

Leaving the mall, I had a ten minute drive to the offices of the organization for whom I freelance.

I worked full-time in those offices over 30 years ago before I began freelancing. Most of the people I worked with then are long gone, but the receptionist is the same friendly woman who I first met back in 1978 when I started work there --- my first professional job after graduation.

She greeted me like an old friend despite the changes on my side of our relationship. We chatted about old times, how things had changed and retirement (hers is imminent, mine not so much).

My editor arrived in the lobby and we went to lunch at a nearby pub. We both ordered chicken pot pies and they were delicious. Over lunch, we talked about business and the hobby we write about. Time passed quickly.

(By the way, my editor has been fully aware of my trans life for a few years now and Wednesday is not the first time she has seen me en femme. In fact, we have had a couple of girls' nights out together in the past.)

Passing in a restaurant is easy as compared to passing while walking through the mall. Once you are seated, you blend in with the other diners. Height is my giveaway, but when I am seated, I look as tall or short as any other woman. Our waitress referred to us as "ladies" and so it went.

After lunch, we drove back to the offices and my editor gave me the nickel tour. Things had changed since I worked there three decades ago and I was anxious to see what was new.

During the tour, we encountered only one other person I knew from the good old days. I am in e-mail contact with this woman a couple of times each month and we have an excellent working relationship. She was happy to see the new me and I was happy to see her.

I enjoyed the tour, thanked my "guide," and exited.

The afternoon was still young and I decided to go shopping again. I drove to the strip mall across the street from West Farms Mall and visited DressBarn.

I found two dresses that I liked and took the two dresses in two sizes to the fitting room. One dress fit in the smaller size (see photo) and the other dress fit in the larger size --- go figure!

I bought both dresses and went home relishing another great day out en femme.

9 comments:

  1. Floral dress is a knock-out! Great find.

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    1. Thank you for the kind words, Peter!

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  2. Great story, It was interesting to read about how you interacted with coleagues who knew you as a man.

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    1. I think they recognized "me" despite how I was dressed.

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  3. Fab outfit. You look great and good to hear the visit went well too.

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  4. Thank you for Sharing Stana, but I couldn't help think. Ho hum! You've accomplished much, and this small aspect of your life, seems to be be the really you. As you seem to speak of it if you do it every day. What I found quite interesting was the dichotomy that you have trans-progressed, and the success you have achieved with out so much much as an ounce of concern by your associates. As if it was just a normal do lunch meet with business associates sort of day of a professional women. Congrats to your success! And a formation of what I believe to be true. Be true to yourself, and others will follow you.

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    1. Thank you for your thoughts, Joan. I think I can attribute some of my success to the fact that I am the same person folks knew in boy mode. I changed my clothes, but I am still me.

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  5. Another beautiful outfit, sweetie.

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