Friday, May 30, 2014

Revisiting Dayton

im_already_a_male__

Two weeks ago, I was living full-time as a woman while attending the Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio. Here are a couple of thoughts about that experience that I did not mention in the Dayton diary that I posted here last week.

One Booth Babe to Another

Across the aisle from our booth at the Hamvention was a big booth that took up eight booth spaces in a 4 by 4 rectangular configuration. Stationed at opposite corners of that group of booths were two attractive 20-something women. Both wore very nice dresses and high heels (just like me) and all weekend long, they handed out stickers to people passing by and we exchanged smiles whenever we caught each other’s eyes.

The stickers were those white oval stickers that you see on the bumpers and rear windows of vehicles. Typically, they display an abbreviation for the location that the driver of the vehicle has visited, for example, "MV" for Martha's Vineyard or "PL" for Poland. But in this case, the stickers had "73" printed on them. (73 is ham radio lingo for "best regards" and is used instead of "good-bye" at the end of a contact between ham radio stations.)

The woman stationed closest to our booth wore a killer pair of high heels that I could picture in my shoe collection, but around 3 PM on Friday, I noticed that she switched to a lower heel, which she stuck with the rest of the weekend.

Saturday morning, while foot traffic was light, I went over to ask her for a sticker, which is now on the rear window of my Subaru. She gladly gave me a sticker.

I thanked her and then I mentioned that I loved the heels she had worn on Friday. She thanked me for complimenting her shoes and then we had a short chat about the perils of wearing heels while staffing a booth for 8 hours a day.

She had to get back to work handing out stickers, so we cut it short, but the girl talk was affirming nonetheless.

Trapped

My carpool buddy at Hamvention witnessed me carry a pair of flats around all weekend and when I drove, he patiently waited while I switched from heels to flats... not only this year, but in past years when we car-pooled at Hamvention. (What a gentleman!)

He has also witnessed me struggle with other aspects of being a woman like a few years ago when I "lost" the keys to my car. (After a panicky 15 minutes, I found the keys hiding inside my purse.)

When we left the picnic Saturday evening, I had a difficult time retrieving my car keys from that same purse because the lining of the purse was caught in the zipper. With my long nails, I struggled for a few minutes trying to undo the zipper, while my buddy stood by waiting patiently.

I was relieved when I finally opened the zipper and was able to retrieve my keys.
With that, my buddy commented, "I'm not sure that dealing with all the trappings of being a woman is worth it."

"You have a good point," I replied.

On the drive home, I thought about my friend’s comment and all the things involved trying to be a presentable woman... not just the trappings of being a woman, but all that stuff both physically and mentally that my guy self has to go through to present as a woman.

Considering everything, I must be crazy to go through it all. But yes, it is all worth it because I am crazy about being a woman.

 

femulate-her-new

 

 

Sophia-Loren---1957---London

Sophia Loren, London, 1957.

 

femulator-new

 

 

A beautiful female impersonator photographed in the early 20th Century.

16 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 30, 2014

    I agree totally, I love being a woman. It resonates at some very deep level with me too.

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    1. That's because we really are women!

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  2. Stana:

    It's our version of the "Call of the Wild" -- an ultimately irresistible natural trait.

    IMHO

    Rhonda

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    1. AnonymousMay 30, 2014

      "The Call of Wild" what a wonderful image...and so apt for us! Thank you for that Rhonda.

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  3. Dear Stana,

    I enjoyed reading today's post. Yes, it certainly is lovely to have “girl talk” with a genetic woman. I love discussing “girly” things with my supportive cisgender female friends. One very close female friend has given me lipsticks she thought would be good for my age and skin coloring. She also insisted I wear hear gorgeous Oleg Cassini faux white fur stole over my cocktail dress at a house party when the outside temperature was in the low 40's. I never felt so feminine as when I was ensconced in my blue satin chiffon cocktail dress and my friends sumptuous stole – the faux fur was so soft and fluffy, and the satin lining was so sensuous. Oh, the joys of being a woman!

    I also love the very different sensations of clothing when dressed in a skirt or dress. It's delightful how the cut of skirts and dresses can feel so different (and wonderful) depending on length and material. Full skirts can have such an open and flowing feeling, while tight pencil skirts can feel entirely different (but delightful) the way they hold your thighs together. I love walking in pencil skirts and high heel pumps – the sensations are so feminine and so different from the “nothing” feeling of wearing guy pants and shoes. Wearing soft, flaring petticoats under very full skirts is another indescribably wonderful feeling. Ankle length gowns are another delight, especially when you have to pull up both sides to navigate stairways. Non-transgendered males may consider some of these things to be difficult and inconvenient, but we special girls just love them. A simple thing like having to hold a full skirt close to your legs for modesty when outside on a windy day is absolutely wonderful to me.

    I enjoy being a girl!

    Love,

    Sheila.

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    1. I just wish I could live as a women every day for the rest of my life.

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    2. AnonymousMay 30, 2014

      What a tragedy....not to die a woman! To miss our on my true nature to that extent...

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    3. Well said, Sheila! You captured the feelings and experiences exactly.

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    4. Dear Julie,

      Thank You!


      Love,

      Sheila.

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  4. Stana -

    Isn't it great living as a woman for days at a time! Yes, it's a pain getting the face made up and all that. Yes, it's a pain having to hunt for things in one's purse, and then looking for a place to put that purse everywhere you go. And yes, dealing with men and "male privilege" can be annoying when they look at us and they assume our IQ's drop by 10 points or more. (There are many more things we could list.... I'm just throwing out random examples.) But with all the hassles, it feels great - especially when I can get out in a pretty dress on a comfortable late spring day and be with other women....

    If I could, I'd go full time - but I can't, as I have to find a way to earn a living again. But I know that in retirement, this will be an option for me....

    M

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    1. I would not hesitate to live full-time if I could despite all the malarkey women have to deal with.

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  5. Watch out Sophia. You're about to get your heel stuck in that grating!

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    1. Good catch, Carolyn! (I hate that when it happens!)

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  6. I so much more enjoy conversations and interactions with other women. I've been fortunate to be included in several groups of women who accept me as "one of their own" and don't seem to see me as different, or very different from themselves. As Monica has written, your demeanor, speech, etiquette and poise go a long way to being accepted. And her remarks about restaurant habits is right on the money (oops, women would probably not say that!) - men eat fast and furious with a fork seeming to be optional. And most women seem to examine a menu even if they know what they want. I found that checking the menu seems to "put me in the mood" and gives me time to blend in and get a feel for my surroundings, especially if I'm by myself. Enjoying a glass of wine or a martini at a classy bar is one of my favorite things to do, and if I discover that some guys are checking me out too, well - Ta Da! - I can't imagine more success and acceptance than that! So, I agree with all of you, I'd be happy spending much of my life as a women too - It's just a lot more fun and empowering!

    May all of your dreams come true, and if that doesn't happen, then live the dream now and then to the fullest!

    Jeanine

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    1. I hope my dreams do come true some day (soon),

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